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 help address 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.
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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 which makes an ever more valuable
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 Irish Canadian 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 in Western 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.
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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.
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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 Fellowship will 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 facilitated 70 engagements in 2012, including in Korea, Singapore and
the US. Engagements have 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 Fund and 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.
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Sean O’Driscoll is 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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