Awards scheme to honour Irish diaspora

THE GOVERNMENT is to introduce a new awards scheme to recognise outstanding contributions made to Ireland and to Irish people by members of the Irish diaspora.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs will announce details of the initiative in his opening speech to the second Irish Global Economics Forum which begins in Dublin Castle today.

Mr Gilmore will tell the 250 participants at the forum, which includes many influential business and societal personalities, either Irish-born or of Irish ancestry, it is now time for the State to reflect the contributions that they have made. He will say the Government will shortly introduce a new system of recognition for sustained and distinguished service to Ireland or Irish communities abroad.

It will not be an “honours system” but will nonetheless give formal recognition, he will say.

Mr Gilmore’s speech is expected to focus in part on the positive developments that arose out of the first forum, which was held in Farmleigh two years ago.

Mr Gilmore will also outline a set of new priorities for the forum, including an ongoing structured engagements between Government and the Irish diaspora; a concerted effort to rebuild Ireland’s international reputation; and a register of international advocates who will have responsibility for six sectors. They are foreign direct investment; the financial services sector; the promotion of culture abroad; tourism; assisting export company; and building the country’s reputation.

Former US president Bill Clinton will be among those participating in forum. He will speak on Saturday evening in Dublin Castle at the end of the two day conference on the theme of Ireland and the global Irish.

The forum will be opened by Taoiseach Enda Kenny this morning. Minister for Tourism Leo Varadkar is expected to announce a large tourism project.

“The Gathering” will attempt to attract thousands of people of Irish extraction back to Ireland for a year of celebrations.

It is modelled on the successful “Homecoming Scotland” festival in 2009 which attracted an extra 100,000 visitors to that country.

Carl Schramm, the chief executive of the Kauffman Foundation, which is the largest private funder of economic research in the US, will also address the forum this morning on the subject of the importance of entrepreneurship to economic growth.

Mr Schramm favours incentives such as tax holidays for new companies, lower levels of regulation for new firms and an immigration system that more readily admits people who are likely to start businesses and fuel job creation.

“In both the US and Ireland there is growing pressure from young people who want to start businesses, which makes me optimistic. And it’s not just youngsters,” said Mr Schramm yesterday.

Mr Schramm, who has an Irish passport and whose grandmother was from Co Limerick, is also in Dublin to participate in the creation of a National Foundation for Entrepreneurship in Ireland.

Speaking on the prospects for the US economy, Mr Schramm said he believed the US political culture would not tolerate long-term stagnation in the economy.

“I think in the immediate future, you’re not going to see much in the way of a recovery in the US, but in the long-term, I would have an optimistic view,” he said.

“Eventually Americans will insist on growth.”