Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade – 8 May, 2013
Opening Statement by Niall Burgess,Director General, Anglo Irish Division,
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Chairman, Senators, Deputies,
It is a pleasure to appear before the Committee this afternoon to discuss the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and of our Embassies and Consulates abroad in support of Irish emigrants and more broadly in engaging with the Irish diaspora.
I will focus my initial comments on current issues facing Irish abroad, particularly the undocumented in the United States and on the follow up to the last Global Irish Economic Forum.
Much of this work is coordinated by our Irish Abroad Unit and I am joined today by my colleagues Joe Hackett, Director of the Unit and by Karl Gardner, the Deputy Director.
Chairman,
It is fair to say that for as long as Ireland has had a diplomatic network, the Department and its network of missions have always worked closely with Irish communities abroad. But this work took on an even closer and more practical character following the Report of the Task Force on Policy Regarding Emigrants in 2002. This report led to the establishment in 2004 of a dedicated unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Irish Abroad Unit,whose task was to helpaddress the needs of our most vulnerable emigrants and to provide policy support to the Government’s engagement with the Diaspora.
Since then, Chairman, the Unit has been fortunate in the strong bi-partisan support and assistance it has received from the Oireachtas and from this Committee.
Members will,of course,be aware that globalisation and communications technology has changed,in a significant way, the nature of the debate surrounding Diaspora engagement. From a position whereby our people abroad were considered as distant and separated, international discussion now revolves around building mutually beneficial partnerships with these communities - partnerships which helps support a strong connection by addressing their needs in their new homes but also by drawing more actively on their knowledge, experience and goodwill.
Ireland is not alone in this objective. Other countries such China, India and Singapore devote increasing thought and resources to harnessing the potential of their diasporas.
I am pleased to say however that Ireland has remained to the forefront of this work. Whether in delivering peace in Northern Ireland, spurring economic development, raising awareness of our culture or creating a positive brand in their adopted homes, we are fortunate to possess a global Irish presence whichmakes an ever morevaluable contribution to Ireland.
Today, our Diaspora engagement policy has two key strands. First, through the Emigrant Support Programme, we work with almost 200 Irish community organisations in over 20 countries to provide support to Irish emigrants. Since 2004, Irish groups ranging from those providing front line services to those most at need including the elderly, isolated, vulnerable and new arrivals to those working in the culture and heritage space have received grants of over €100 million.
In line with recommendations made by this Committee, Chairman,we are engaging with communities who are receiving larger numbers of new emigrants such as in Australia and Canada. In Canada we support the new IrishCanadian Immigration Centre in Toronto while in Australia, the main welfare bureaus in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane all secured additional funding in 2012. Our Embassies in Canberra and Ottawa are also working to provide support to new communities in more distant centres inWestern Australia and Western Canada.
Indeed, projects aimed at supporting the needs of new emigrants are a very specific focus of the 2013 programme which has just closed.
Of course one issue affecting the welfare of many Irish in the US is the issue of immigration reform.
Chairman,
We are keenly aware of the strong interest of this Committee in the situation facing the Irish undocumented in the United States and appreciative of contacts that you and other members have had in support of a resolution to their plight during your visits to the United States.
A resolution of their plight has long been and remains a priority for the Government in ongoing contacts with the US Administration and Congress. The Government has also attached great importance to providing for future flows of migration between Ireland and the United States through the extension of the so called E3 visa scheme to include Irish citizens.
In this context, we very much welcome the recent publication of the US Senate’s Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Bill which provides for reform of the US immigration system.
The legislation, which was drafted over several months by a bi-partisan group of eight US Senators, includes provisions that would help resolve the plight of thousands of undocumented Irish people who are living illegally in the US. It also provides for future flows of legal migration between Ireland and the US.
The Bill is a very positive development. Its provisions, if adopted, would help to end the great hardship and uncertainty faced by undocumented Irish in the US and their families here in Ireland. The inclusion of a new provision to allow several thousand Irish citizens to legally avail of employment opportunities in the US every year is also particularly welcome.
Both of these issues were a key focus of the ongoing contacts undertaken by Taoiseach and Tánaiste’s with political leaders in the US, particularly during their visit to Washington D.C. over St. Patrick’s Day when they discussed the prospects for progress with Ireland’s key friends on Capitol Hill and in the Administration. The Government has maintained close contact since publication of the Bill with the key players through our Embassy in Washington.
It is important to recall that the overall issues involved are complex and sensitive ones within the US political system and that much further debate is likely to be required before the final shape of any overall legislation becomes clear.
The Committee can be assured that the Tánaiste and Ambassador Collins and his team in Washington will continue to work towards securing a solution for the undocumented.
We are again fortunate that we are supported in this work by a number of Irish community organisations such as the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, the Chicago Celts for Immigration Reform and the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
Chairman,
The second element of our policy is focussed around the work of the Global Irish Network- a group of over 300 of the most influential Irish connected business figures drawn from almost 40 countries. Established after the first Farmleigh Forum, the Network provides invaluable advice, facilitation and practical assistance to the Government and Irish companies.
As I mentioned earlier, Ireland is very fortunate that we can call upon the reservoir of goodwill, expertise and support that exists among our Diaspora. In October, 2011, we saw a powerful demonstration of this commitment when 270 members of the Global Irish Network travelled, at their own expense, to the Global Irish Economic Forum in Dublin Castle.This ambitious event built upon the initial Forum convened at Farmleigh in 2009.
As you will be aware from your own participation at Dublin Castle, the members of the Global Irish Network are deeply committed to making a practical contribution to this country’s recovery and further development. The outcomes of the Forum provide tangible evidence of the benefits to be gained by engaging with our overseas communities.
At this stage all the key outcomes have been completed or significantly progressed. For example, as a direct result of the Forum:
In tourism: over 320,000 extra tourists are expected to visit Ireland this year through The Gathering. Network members have acted as Gathering Ambassadors and a number have organised significant Gathering events in Ireland;
In job creation: we have worked through investment events in New York and Dublin to target new sources of FDI. Since its launch in March, 2012, over 6,280 people have registered with Connect Ireland and 800 companies have been suggested to them by people from across the world. 50 of those companies are now in advanced discussions.
In education and training: the Farmleigh Fellowshipwill provide 100 Irish graduates with Asian experience over the 2010 – 2015 period;
In support of Irish SMEs: over 100 participants have now signed up to the Global Irish Contacts programme which directly links the Diaspora with Irish companies looking to achieve international growth. The programme now has expertise in 32 markets across 14 sectors and facilitated70 engagements in 2012, including in Korea, Singapore and the US. Engagementshave continued this year including in areas such as one to one mentoring and advice; market and sector briefings; trade missions; sectoral events and investments;
Our SME sector policy has also been positively shaped by advice provided at the Forum. Members welcomed the introduction of the Temporary Partial Credit Guarantee Scheme, the Micro Finance Fundand the appointment of successful entrepreneurs as International Start-up Ambassadors.
The development of the Global Irish Network is helping to shape a forward-looking, strategic relationship between Ireland and our Diaspora. It has facilitated individuals taking on specific projects.
Sean O’Driscollis working closely with our Embassy and State Agencies to enhance our relationship with Japan while Irial Finan of Coca Cola organised an “Invest in Ireland” roundtable in Dublin last year to coincide with the Navy v Notre Dame football match.
The Committee will wish to be aware that the Tánaiste has decided to convene a third Global Irish Economic Forum in Dublin Castle on 4 and 5 October. The overall focus of the Forum will be job creation and, in line with the views of the membership, the Forum will focus on four specific sectors, namely, (i) overcoming the challenges facing the domestic economy with particular emphasis on tackling youth unemployment; (ii) financial services and public financing; (iii) technology; and (iv) education with particular emphasis on higher education.
While the format and programme remains to be finalised, the Forum will also include a number of new elements including direct engagement between the Forum and the Irish SME sector, greater involvement of the third level sector and greater participation by network members in developing and facilitating discussions during the Forum.
Mr Chairman
I hope my remarks have provided a useful overview of some of the work undertaken with and in support of the Irish abroad by the Department.
I and my colleagues will, of course, be happy to answer any questions the Committee may have.
ENDS
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