Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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11. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has engaged with members of the diaspora with a construction background who are disincentivised from returning home due to VAT rates applicable on the tools of their trade; if he has engaged with his Cabinet counterparts in relation to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [67549/25]

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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The Programme for Government contains specific commitments to reduce barriers for emigrants wishing to return.

Work on our new diaspora strategy is underway, and as part of its development I have led in-person meetings with community groups overseas, including in Britain, Europe, the US, Canada, the Middle East and beyond. I also hosted round-table discussions in Ireland, first to hear from my fellow Oireachtas members, and then later to hear from Ireland-based organisations that work with the diaspora. Our in-person consultations were supplemented by an online consultation, the Global Irish Survey, which received over 10,000 responses. These consultations offered an opportunity to respondents to share their views on the barriers faced by returning emigrants, which will feed directly into the new strategy.