| Minister pledges further support
for Irish Diaspora  By
Trevor O’sullivan
IRELAND’S relationship with the Irish community abroad was the
subject of a major conference held at Dublin Castle recently.
Politicians joined prominent members of the Irish community in Britain
and Ireland to discuss the future of Ireland’s relationship with
its Diaspora.
Speakers at the event included Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot
Ahern, President of the GAA Nickey Brennan and Tim Pat Coogan, journalist
and author of Wherever Green Is Worn.
Minister Ahern stressed the importance of a lively debate on issues relevant
to the Irish abroad.
He said: “The time is right to review our approach to our community
across the globe and to develop a strategy for the years ahead.
“Just as the nature of our Diaspora has never been fixed, our attitudes
and our capacity to engage with the Irish abroad have changed with our
nation’s fortunes.
“We need to regularly reshape our policies in this key area and
this conference will launch that process.
“The needs of the Irish community in Britain, in particular of older
people and those at risk of social exclusion, remain a key priority for
us.
“Maintaining and enhancing our links with our communities abroad
has been a particular priority for the government.
“This strong commitment is reflected in the unprecedented level
of funding for emigrant services now available. This year, ?15.2million
is being disbursed to Irish community organisations abroad the highest
amount ever allocated.
“The legislative debate in the US on immigration reform has entered
a critical phase and I remain determined to take every opportunity in
contacts with key figures in the US to highlight the importance that the
government attaches to a sympathetic and positive approach to this issue.”
Director of the Federation of Irish Societies Eithne Rynne attended the
conference and believed it was an event worth repeating.
She said: “I felt it was an excellent conference, quite timely really.
“A lot of it was looking at the recommendations in the Taskforce
Policy on Emigrants and acknowledging what had been done but also highlighting
the fact that there was more to do.
“We were involved in workshops on the Irish abroad and future policy
in relation to the Irish in Britain.
“I came away feeling very positive and I felt there would be steps
taken to meet the future needs of the Irish community in Britain.” |
