Second economic forum for diaspora planned

THE GOVERNMENT is to host a second global Irish economic forum at Dublin Castle in October, Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore has said.

“The forum will provide an opportunity for the Government to meet directly with many of the most influential members of our diaspora and discuss our priorities for economic renewal, job creation and the restoration of Ireland’s reputation abroad,” he told the Dáil. The emphasis, he said, “will be less on what we should be doing and more about action”.

It follows another forum in 2009 held at Farmleigh, which the Minister for Foreign Affairs said “led to the implementation of a series of significant initiatives across a range of areas, including business network development, innovation, tourism, the promotion of Irish culture and diaspora engagement”.

The details of the programme and discussion topics are being finalised but the discussions will cover economic areas identified as priorities in the programme for government.

Invitations will be sent shortly to members of the Global Irish Network and others.

The network, established last year, is made up of more than 300 people from 37 countries. “The members include some of the most influential Irish and Irish-connected individuals abroad, and they provide Ireland with an invaluable resource of international expertise from which we can draw as we work towards economic recovery,” Mr Gilmore said.

The network advises, facilitates, disseminates information about the Irish economy and assists with specific initiatives.

“The members have also been an invaluable resource to our ambassadors and consul generals in their work of promoting Ireland abroad,” the Tánaiste said.

Fianna Fáil foreign affairs spokesman Seán Ó Feargháil, who raised the issue during Dáil Question Time, asked the Minister about his level of engagement with members of the network since his appointment, and what would be the significant difference between the last forum and the next, to be held on October 7th and 8th.

Mr Gilmore paid tribute to the previous government for establishing the network which he said was a very successful initiative.

He said the emphasis would be “more about action. There will be a more specific agenda built on what has happened since the last forum convened”.

He said that on recent visits to Paris and London, department officials “convened members of the forum” through a large trade gathering and we also convened groups of 10 or 12 members to speak with me and representatives of State agencies about initiatives we must undertake, particularly in how to grow Irish trade abroad”.