The Irish who live outside Ireland are remembered at this time of year and the Government is making new efforts to reach out to them, writes Dermot Ahern.
In Ireland, we have a great tradition of celebration and sharing with people less fortunate than ourselves. This is particularly evident at this time of year when families gather from around the globe to celebrate Christmas in the warm embrace of family and friends. Our thoughts are also with our extended Irish family abroad, who will no doubt celebrate Christmas Irish-style wherever they may be.
One of the most exciting developments in government policy in recent years has been the widening and deepening of our involvement with Irish communities overseas. The Irish diaspora is arguably the largest, and certainly one of the most influential, in the world. While the ties between this country and people of Irish background abroad vary widely, there can be no doubt about the sense of belonging, or about the enormous reservoir and huge asset that this represents for the country.
The dimensions of our diaspora are breathtaking. In the last US census, 36 million people declared an Irish link. The figures for Britain, Australia, Argentina, Canada and New Zealand are equally impressive. Large numbers are also to be found in South Africa and Zimbabwe, and increasing numbers of Irish people are living in Spain and other Mediterranean countries.
In the past, the Troubles in the North complicated our relationships with many in our communities overseas. In the wake of the Good Friday agreement and as Ireland matures into a modern, economically developed country, we can re-evaluate our relationship with our people abroad. The Government undertook a comprehensive review of our relationship with the diaspora and decided to step up activity greatly.
In 2007 the Irish Government budgeted 15 times (€15.2 million) the amount it contributed to support emigrant services in 1997. The programme for government gives a further commitment to double this amount during the lifetime of the current administration. This will bring the figure up to €34 million per annum.
Our worldwide network of diplomatic missions has had active engagement with the global Irish family and its many constituent organisations for decades, and continues to do so. Overall, and when compared with other nationalities, we have been very successful in our outreach and in maintaining links with our global family.
To administer this diaspora strategy and the extra resources, the Government established a dedicated unit within the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Irish Abroad Unit serves as focal point for issues relating to the diaspora. It co-ordinates the activities of our diplomatic missions around the world on matters relating to Irish communities abroad. Its programmes are wide-ranging and innovative.
Britain has traditionally been the main destination of our emigrants, especially since the second World War. Many of our people went there to work "on the buildings" and formed large groups often associated with particular counties - Mayo, Galway, Donegal and so on. Many of that generation have now reached retirement age and unfortunately some of them operated outside the normal structures of the state system.
Today, these people, many of whom remained single, see their circle of friends diminish and ties with family in Ireland weaken. They can drift into lives of isolation and loneliness. To counter this, today the primary role of 220 workers funded by the Government is to help disadvantaged people at Irish organisations and clubs. The Simon community reported that the number of homeless Irish in central London had dropped six-fold. The policy is clearly working. The welfare of the most vulnerable Irish will remain at the top of the agenda and is my own personal priority.
At the same time, to concentrate solely on the socially deprived would be to give a very misleading impression of the story of our Irish communities overseas.
The vast majority of Irish emigrants to Britain have made a success of their lives and are well represented in every walk of life throughout Britain. It is heartening, for example, to see the growth of the Irish business networks. .
The GAA holds a special place in the hearts of many Irish people home and abroad. The Government and the GAA Overseas Committee have entered into an exciting new partnership in Britain and North America funding full-time youth development officers on a 50:50 basis.
The Government provided $1.4 million this year to Irish Immigration Centres in Boston, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Diego and Seattle. We are also helping with a major upgrading of the Irish Centre on the northside of Chicago to the tune of €350,000 (over $516,000).
In Canada and Australia, the Government has provided funding to welfare centres in Toronto, Ottawa, Sydney, Melbourne and Wollongong, and also contributed €300,000 as matching funds with the Canadian federal government to Ireland Park in Toronto, which opened last June. We have also assisted the Famine memorial in Hyde Park Barracks in Sydney and a new GAA/community centre in Perth.
There are also small programmes in South Africa, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. In Zimbabwe, there is still a substantial Irish community, some of whom are in distress. The Government has contributed €20,000, distributed by local Irish community organisations to the most deserving needy members there.
Argentina has the largest Irish community outside the English-speaking countries. Links go back over 200 years, but there has been little migration for a number of generations. I authorised help for the local Irish newspaper - the Southern Cross - and the Hurling Club of Buenos Aires and the Father Fahy Club to co-ordinate Irish activities in Argentina.
I mentioned already that I place particular emphasis on the most vulnerable Irish. The plight of our undocumented Irish in the US is of very special concern. Many emigrated prior to the emergence of the Celtic Tiger here, and before the security clampdown post-9/11. Many have built successful livelihoods and lives. But they cannot return home. If they did, they would risk losing all they have built up there. I have worked continuously to assist our people caught in this impossible position. Most regrettably, the political climate for reform has changed for the worse and a succession of liberalising measures have been defeated in Congress. This will not dissuade me from continuing to work with our friends in Congress to solve the issue of our undocumented and to improve the migration flows between our countries. I will be guided by the advice of those Irish American politicians who have been so helpful in the past, and remain hopeful, but we need to have patience in progressively tackling this challenging problem.
We have to ensure that we maintain the interest of our communities abroad in Ireland as the generations go by. I am confident we can meet that challenge. I am fully committed to maintaining this new outreach to our people - our global family - overseas.
Nollaig shona is faoi mhaise dhíobh.
Dermot Ahern is Minister for Foreign Affairs