Second Civic Forum gathers ideas from the globe

The Government reconfirms its commitment to work with and support Irish people across globe, says Diaspora Minister Joe McHugh

LAST week, two years on from the launch of Ireland’s first diaspora policy, I had the privilege of hosting the second Global Irish Civic Forum, held over two days in Dublin Castle.

The first Civic Forum took place in 2015. That was a time of renewal after the economic crisis. Today, in 2017, we are in a different time for Ireland and for the world. Having developed a strong and sustainable economic recovery, our people, at home and abroad, now find themselves facing a number of major challenges internationally.

In the face of those challenges, our partnership with the global Irish becomes not less important, but more.

Last week’s Civic Forum has reconfirmed the Government’s steadfast commitment to supporting and working with the Irish abroad in these times of change.

Some 230 people, representing more than 150 Irish community organisations drawn from our more established communities in Britain, America, Canada and Australia as well as from younger Irish communities in Europe and the Middle East, participated in the Civic Forum.

The theme of ‘Communities, Connections, Conversations’ captures the purpose of the event, but perhaps no words can fully describe the positive energy of the modern meitheal — a gathering together to reap the harvest of ideas and perspectives from all over the world.

We listened attentively to those who had gathered in Dublin Castle — hearing the views of these organisations at the Civic Forum is crucial as we shape our strategic priorities for our engagement with the Irish diaspora into the future. We heard inspiring stories from individuals and groups that work with elderly Irish emigrants in Britain, with the undocumented Irish in America, supporting the well-being of young Irish emigrants and making business connections in far flung places. On all these subjects I was heartened to know that Irish organisations have already mobilised to respond to the challenges they face.

We are here to support them. We direct some 70pc of the Government’s annual Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) budget of €11.595m to organisations providing frontline welfare services to the most vulnerable members of our overseas communities.

The ESP also supports cultural, heritage, sporting and business initiatives which ensure vibrant Irish communities abroad and strengthen their links with Ireland.

This work is led by tireless and professional Irish community organisations and supported every step of the way by Ireland’s Mission network and by the Global Irish Services Division in the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade in Dublin, which also houses a dedicated Irish Abroad Unit.

And, of course, the views of our diaspora are as diverse and different as the views of Irish people at home.

At the Plenary Session on the issue of extending voting rights in Presidential elections for Irish citizens resident outside the State, Minister Simon Coveney (Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government) and I heard a wide range of responses to the Options Paper published in March.

The Government has made a commitment to host a referendum on this matter and I know this has been welcomed by Irish communities around the world.

We will report to Government on last week’s discussion. Whatever option the Government decides on, and whoever the future referendum proposes to extend voting rights to, one thing is clear — we must proceed in a manner that results in a strengthened, unified global Irish community.

The Civic Forum has been the high point of my first year as Minister for the Diaspora.

I must admit that in this first year I have been awed by the people I have met and the breadth and depth of the work that Irish people do around the world. In country after country, I have seen the positive impact that Irish people are having on those around them. From Brussels to Boston, from London to Lebanon, Irish people are giving back to their adopted homes and are at the forefront of economic and technological development.

I make this point strongly because I have learned that in countless countries being Irish or having Irish values is a by-word for excellence, hard work, friendliness and innovation.

While the standing of the Irish abroad has been hard won and is well deserved, their authentic and long-standing values now face new challenges in the form of political and social upheaval. The international landscape is shifting, and with it the nature of the relationships with some of our closest partners is shifting. Let there be no mistake, we will make a success of these changes, first and foremost for our people but also for our place in the world.

Ireland’s global role as a peacemaker, as a dynamic economy, as a land of culture and as a place of a thousand welcomes will not be diminished. So too our commitment to, and engagement with, the global Irish will endure.

We will support, engage and connect our networks of people and our existing communities, redoubling our efforts to ensure that, no matter what, Ireland will continue to cherish its special affinity with people of Irish ancestry living abroad who share its cultural identity and heritage.

‘Irish values face new challenges in political and social upheaval’