March: Global Irish - Ireland's Diaspora Policy

In March 2015, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D., the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan T.D., Tánaiste Joan Burton T.D. and Minister of State for Diaspora Affairs Jimmy Deenihan T.D. launched “Global Irish: Ireland’s Diaspora Policy”.

Global Irish is a comprehensive and updated statement of Irish Government policy on the relationship with our diaspora. The policy provides a basis for new ways of engaging with the Irish abroad and serves to strengthen ties and connectedness.

The policy also sets out a of number of new initiatives, such as a Global Irish Media Fund to support media coverage of the diaspora and emigration experience, a Global Irish Summer Camp and a Global Irish Alumni Challenge Fund to provide funding support to Irish institutions targeting their graduates working internationally.

A new Global Irish website - www.dfa.ie/global-irish - was also launched. The website contains a wealth of practical information for the diaspora on support services, living abroad, staying in touch and returning home to Ireland.

Implementation of the policy is being led by an Interdepartmental Committee on the Diaspora in which the Department’s Irish Abroad Unit, Ireland’s network of Embassies and Consulates and other relevant Government Departments and State Agencies are all represented.

In 2015, implementation of the Diaspora Policy resulted in a number of key achievements which included:

• The first Global Irish Civic Forum in Ireland in June;
• The first Global Irish Parliamentary Forum in September;
• The Fourth Global Irish Economic Forum in November;
• Launch of the first Global Irish Media Fund in December