Written Answers Nos. 248-267
248. Deputy Charles Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Irish Consul General based in New York has met formally with the new Mayor of New York city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74907/25]
View answerIreland's Consul General in New York and the team at the Consulate regularly engage with political figures at State and local levels in New York and across the consular area.
This includes regular engagement with the Mayor of New York City, as well as his or her officials. This provides opportunities for the discussion of a wide range of shared interests, including the city's Irish communities.
The then Consul General met with Mayor Mamdani at the Emigrant Support Programme funded 'St Pat’s for All Parade' in March 2025, when Mamdani was serving as a New York State Assemblyman. The current Consul General wrote to Mayor Mamdani following his election last November and looks forward to opportunities for engagement with the Mayor and his team.
249. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to request an emergency meeting with the European Commission, the Agriculture Commissioner and the Trade Commissioner to debate the consequences of the Mercosur Trade Deal, if implemented (details supplied), for Irish farmers [74977/25]
View answer283. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress to date in honouring the commitment in the Programme for Government to defend the interests of Irish farmers in all discussions on the proposed Mercosur Trade Deal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1886/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 249 and 283 together.
Ireland is a small, open economy, and we depend for our prosperity upon good two-way trading relations with the nations of the world. This is at the heart of Ireland’s traditional support for free, fair and open trade. We remain committed to free and open markets, and recent developments in the international trading environment have highlighted the importance of market diversification, including by finalising a number of Free Trade Agreements.
The Government has always been clear, however, that such free trade agreements must defend our most vulnerable sectors and that our farmers’ livelihoods must not be undermined through weak or ineffective environmental standards in other countries. This position is clearly outlined in the Programme for Government, which, in January 2025, stated that the Government would work with like-minded EU countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal.
Government ministers and officials have engaged intensively at EU level – with both the European Commission and with counterparts in EU Member States, including like-minded countries – to voice our concerns with the agreement. The Government has also remained in regular contact with Irish stakeholders from the agriculture, environment and business sectors, as we sought to fully understand their concerns.
As a result of efforts made by Ireland and like-minded Member States, it is important to state that improvements have been made to the overall agreement package, including a legal act to operationalise bilateral safeguards to protect sensitive products, a financial safety net for farmers, strengthened sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) controls along with a 50% increase in audits and checks, and commitments on the alignment of production and SPS standards, notably on pesticides and animal welfare. The Commission also committed on 7 January to enhance the availability of CAP funding to farmers and rural communities under the proposed new MFF.
Despite these improvements, we continue to have significant concerns about the impact that the EU-Mercosur Agreement could have for our agricultural sector and for our rural economy. In line with the clear commitment in the Programme for Government, Ireland voted against the Agreement at the vote of EU Member States on 9 January. The consent of the European Parliament for conclusion of the Agreement is also required.
The Government will continue its engagement with the European Commission and with counterparts in EU Member States in the time ahead to ensure the full implementation of the commitments obtained from the Commission to address our concerns with the Agreement.
250. Deputy Aisling Dempsey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will confirm that an investor’s loss of profits will not be sufficient grounds for making a claim against a government (details supplied) in relation to CETA; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [74999/25]
View answer252. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to examine a matter (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75185/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 250 and 252 together.
The EU’s new approach to investment protection includes the Investment Court System (ICS), which will replace the long-standing Investor-State Dispute Settlement or ISDS mechanism. The European Union and its Member States are keenly aware of the criticisms of the ISDS system. To overcome the shortcomings attributed to the ISDS system, the EU and its Member States have put forward new reforms addressing these concerns head-on. This new, progressive system contains investment protection provisions that are balanced against a State’s right to regulate in the public interest.
The Government is currently progressing the Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2025 in Dáil Éireann as part of ongoing efforts to take forward ratification of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and other international agreements containing similar ICS investment dispute resolution provisions. The preparation of this Bill has been informed by careful assessment.
These agreements include clearly defined investment protection standards, including on fair and equitable treatment, and provide clear guidance to standing dispute resolution Tribunals on how these standards should be applied. Furthermore, in order to ensure that Tribunals in all circumstances respect the intent of the Parties, the agreements establishing these Tribunals include provisions that provide for the issuance of binding notes of interpretation where serious concerns have arisen as regards matters of interpretation. In the case of CETA, the Joint Interpretative Instrument confirms that “Canada and the European Union and its Member States are committed to using these provisions to avoid and correct any misinterpretation of CETA by Tribunals.”
These agreements include provisions that affirm that the Parties preserve their rights to regulate for public policy purposes. They also provide that investment protection provisions shall not be interpreted as a commitment from governments that their legal frameworks will remain unchanged. The agreements further clarify that the fact that a measure may negatively affect an investment or affect an investor’s expectations of profits is not sufficient to say that the measure is inconsistent with the agreement.
251. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of projects in her Department that were delayed in 2023 and 2024 due to the change of document from the Public Spending Code to the Infrastructure Guidelines, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75109/25]
View answerNo capital projects in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade were delayed in 2023 and 2024 due to the change of document from the Public Spending Code to the Infrastructure Guidelines.
253. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the salary scale that applies to the Secretary General in her Department and to the head of each agency for which they are responsible; whether this scale has changed in the past two years or whether there are proposals to change this scale in the coming period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75196/25]
View answerThe Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is on the Secretary General Level II salary scale. Matters relating to civil service pay and conditions, including salary scales are the responsibility of the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
The are no bodies operating under the ageis of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
254. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount expended on advertising and promotion in her Department, and within each agency for which she is responsible, for 2022 to 2024, by year and budgeted for 2026; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75214/25]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade uses advertising and public awareness campaigns primarily to promote essential services to citizens at home and abroad such as passport and consular services. In previous years, public awareness campaigns in relation to COVID-19 travel restrictions and Brexit have formed a significant part of campaigns.
My Department’s expenditure on advertising and promotion for 2022 to 2024 is outlined by year below:
|
Year |
Total |
|
2022 |
€725,747 |
|
2023 |
€586,308 |
|
2024 |
€420,500 |
Planning is currently ongoing for advertising and promotion requirements in 2026, and the associated budget has yet to be finalised.
There are no agencies under the aegis of the Department.
255. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of press, media or communications staff currently employed in her Department and within each agency for which she is responsible; the cost of these staff for 2025 and the expected cost for 2026; whether there are proposals to increase the number of such staff; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75232/25]
View answerThe Communications Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is comprised of the following teams: Press Relations, Public Diplomacy and Content, Multimedia and Digital, Internal Communications, Irish Aid Communications, and Digital Ireland House (Ireland.ie). Unique to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is that, in addition to servicing the communications needs of DFAT headquarters, the Unit also provides communications guidance and support for more than 100 embassies, consulates and multilateral missions globally. This includes areas such as crisis communications, social media management, graphic design, website management and press relations support. DFAT and its mission network manage over 370 social media channels across multiple platforms.
The number of staff in the Unit as of 31 December 2025 was 32. This number includes 5 people on temporary assignments who are working on preparations for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. It is envisaged that additional staff will be assigned for this purpose to the Unit during 2026.
All staff are paid in accordance with civil service salary scales and relevant public service pay agreements.
|
Grade |
Staff Numbers |
EU Presidency Staff |
|
Counsellor / Principal Officer |
1 |
0 |
|
First Secretary / Assistant Principal |
5 |
3 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
8 |
0 |
|
Third Secretary / Administrative Officer |
5 |
1 |
|
Executive Officer / Intern |
5 |
0 |
|
Clerical Officer |
3 |
1 |
|
Total |
27 |
5 |
256. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the estimated cost to her Department and to each agency for which they are responsible arising from Ireland’s presidency of the European Council; the line items or events for which a cost is expected to arise and the estimated cost for each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75250/25]
View answerIreland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2026 will be an important opportunity for Ireland to shape Europe’s policy direction, lead important aspects of the EU’s work, and showcase Ireland’s engagement, expertise and values at the heart of the European Union.
The Government committed in the Programme for Government to resourcing and delivering a successful EU Presidency. In line with that commitment, the Revised Estimates for 2026 included an allocation of €65m to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to cover the estimated costs associated with the Department’s responsibility for centrally co-ordinating policy and operational planning for the EU Presidency across Government.
The overall estimated cost of €65m covers the additional temporary staffing needs arising in Brussels and in Ireland to deliver on the Council’s legislative and policy agenda and to support policy and operational planning. These staff members are supporting delivery of the significant additional workload involved in the hosting of the Presidency, including the central co-ordination of policy and operational planning for the EU Presidency across Government, the chairing of multiple working group meetings, and the planning and delivery of the high-level European Political Community Summit, the informal European Council, 22 informal Ministerial meetings and over 40 official-level meetings and events being hosted by the Department.
It also covers the central operational costs which fall to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade associated with delivery of the Presidency and with the planned extensive meeting programme in Ireland. During the Presidency, Ireland will host more than 270 meetings, conferences and events involving representatives from our European and international partners. These Presidency events in Ireland are expected to involve more than 30,000 participants.
Costs associated with the events falling to this Department include: the secure transport of high-level delegations attending Summits and informal Ministerial meetings, simultaneous interpretation services, catering, accommodation for Ministerial meetings, provision of an online accreditation platform to support secure access to meeting venues as well as host broadcasting services. Other costs include leasing of temporary premises in Brussels and costs in respect of initiatives across the Mission network to promote Ireland and Irish culture during the Presidency.
Major planning has taken place to date to ensure that costs are managed across all expenditure headings and prudent financial planning will continue throughout to ensure value for money is delivered. A co-ordinated approach, supported by the Office of Government Procurement, is being taken to procurement of key services such as accreditation, transport, interpretation, catering, and accommodation, to support consistency of standards and cost-control.
257. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the priorities of her Department and each agency for which they are responsible for, in respect of Ireland’s presidency of the European Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [75268/25]
View answerIreland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time from 1 July to 31 December 2026. This will be an important opportunity for Ireland to lead and shape the European agenda, and the Government has made a firm commitment to resource and deliver a successful Presidency in 2026.
Preparations for the Presidency are well underway, led by my Department, in close coordination with the Department of the Taoiseach, and with the active participation of all Departments across Government.
The priorities and policy programme for our EU Presidency are currently under development. This work is taking account of the EU’s Strategic Agenda for 2024-29 and the legislative work programme of the European Commission. Consultations with our European partners will also inform the development of our priorities and policy programme, as will the evolution of the Council’s legislative agenda through the current Presidency term of Cyprus (January to June 2026). The policy objectives we set for our Presidency will also be shaped by our own priorities across an array of areas, including but far from limited to the protection of EU values at home and abroad, the enlargement of the Union, European security, and the competitiveness and simplification agenda, which covers a wide range of areas including housing and the delivery of infrastructure.
The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that stakeholder groups also have their voices heard. A series of consultation meetings with stakeholders from across business, civil society, trade unions and other interest groups has recently taken place and will continue into 2026. A call for written submissions on the development of Ireland’s policy priorities, hosted on gov.ie, was launched on 5 November and closed on 12 December with 484 submissions received.
I understand that other Government Departments are also engaging in sector-specific Presidency consultations with stakeholder groups. This process will allow consideration to be given to a broad range of different policy issues, from diverse voices throughout Ireland, as our Presidency policy programme is developed.
Following the conclusion of this process, the Government will agree and publish our programme of policy priorities for the Presidency in June 2026, shortly before the start of Ireland's Presidency term.
258. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the timeframe for the introduction of the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1068/26]
View answerIn June, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill.
The main purpose of the Bill is to prohibit the importation of goods into the State from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, in line with the Programme for Government commitment.
Legally, the regulation of external trade in services is considerably more complex than is the case with goods at EU level. There would also be greater complexity when it comes to implementation than is the case with regard to trade in goods.
The Government has now received legal advice from the Attorney General. We are closely studying this and reflecting on next steps, including consultation with relevant Departments.
Work is advancing across a number of strands at official level as well as engagement at EU level.
It remains the Government’s preference that collective action would be taken at EU level and we continue to pursue this.
Any legislation must be legally robust, able to withstand challenge and progress the Government's broader policy agenda.
259. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the total amount of Exchequer funding allocated by her Department in each of the past three years to international development and humanitarian assistance programmes; and to provide a breakdown of this funding by programme. [1096/26]
View answer260. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the proportion of funding allocated under international development and humanitarian assistance programmes administered by her Department in each of the past three years that was expended on administration, management, consultancy, monitoring, and other overhead costs; and the proportion that was delivered directly to frontline projects and beneficiaries. [1097/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 259 and 260 together.
Detailed information on the distribution of Ireland's Official Development Assistance (ODA) is published every year in the Government's Official Development Assistance Annual Report. These reports and their annexes provide details of the levels of ODA support under a variety of headings, including a breakdown by country, modality, and sector (including administration, humanitarian assistance, and development per thematic areas such as education, health, and nutrition). These reports are available online.
Ireland’s ODA consists of funding for programmes through the international development assistance programme, Irish Aid, managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; contributions for international development from other Government Departments; Ireland's share of the EU Development Cooperation Budget; and eligible supports for refugees in their first year in Ireland.
The total amount of funding provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in each of the past three years to international development was €775 million in 2024, €716 million in 2023 and €605 million in 2022. For 2025, €810.3 million was allocated for the Irish Aid programme.
The Annual Reports also report costs incurred in the administration of total Official Development Assistance. These include salaries and pensions, costs of premises, travel, insurance, security costs and other relevant administrative costs. External monitoring, by consultants, of partners, is typically categorised as a cost against that grant.
For 2022, 2023 and 2024, ‘Administrative Costs’ consistently represented 3% of total ODA (excluding eligible supports for Ukrainian refugees). The figures for 2025 will be published later this year, once details of all ODA have been verified and finalised.
261. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the way in which her Department defines “frontline delivery” for the purposes of reporting and evaluation; whether staff salaries, travel, accommodation, and central office costs are classified as frontline expenditure; and the rationale for those classifications. [1098/26]
View answer262. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the value-for-money assessments carried out prior to the approval of funding under international development and humanitarian assistance programmes; if her Department operates benchmarks or thresholds in respect of acceptable administrative and overhead cost ratios; and to provide details of any programmes that exceeded such benchmarks in the past three years. [1099/26]
View answer263. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade what mechanisms are in place within her Department to assess whether funded international development and humanitarian assistance programmes address the underlying causes they are intended to tackle rather than indirect or short-term outputs; the metrics used to measure effectiveness; and the findings of the most recent evaluations carried out. [1100/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 261 to 263, inclusive, together.
Ireland's international development programme, Irish Aid, focuses on providing support for those countries and communities most seriously in need. The Government's policy for international development, 'A Better World,' provides the framework, with the objective of reaching the furthest behind first and addressing the needs of those living in some of the world’s poorest or most climate-exposed countries, and those living in areas affected by conflict.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade publishes Annual reports on Ireland's Official Development Assistance (ODA), which provides detailed breakdowns of the distribution of aid. This includes the amounts allocated to different developing countries and partner organisations, for different thematic priorities, as well as administrative costs.
The Department follows best international practice, as defined by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), on the definition and categorisation of ODA. It does not specifically categorise funding as ‘front line delivery’, but sets out aid modalities including core support to multilateral organisations and NGOs who are integral partners in the delivery of Ireland’s assistance.
The Annual Reports also report costs incurred in the administration of total ODA. These include salaries and pensions, costs of premises, travel, insurance, security costs and other relevant administrative costs. In 2024, some 3% of Ireland’s total ODA (excluding eligible supports for Ukrainian refugees) was categorised as ‘Administration’.
Given the variety of sectors, contexts and geographies in which ODA grant recipients operate, the Department does not apply generic thresholds for partners' administrative, overhead costs or value for money when awarding grants, as this is less effective than the individual grant-specific assessments that are carried out. These assessments are undertaken both as part of the Department’s standard process for awarding and managing grants, and as part of continuous monitoring.
As humanitarian disasters require immediate, life-saving interventions, the support provided by Irish Aid in these contexts is often short-term with Ireland’s humanitarian assistance amounting to €330 million in 2024. However, as set out in ‘A Better World’, Ireland is also committed to the long-term goal of reducing humanitarian need. In this, we seek to address its root causes, including addressing conflict, preventing climate change and tackling all forms of vulnerability, providing assistance across a variety of thematic areas including education, health and agriculture.
To ensure effective internal and external control, the Department’s independent Evaluation and Audit Unit provides objective assessment, assurance, advice in relation to the delivery of Ireland’s international development programme, as well as insight regarding corporate performance, governance, risk management. The work of the Evaluation and Audit Unit is validated by an external Audit Committee.
In its evaluations, the Evaluation and Audit Unit assesses against a range of criteria, one of which is effectiveness, defined as “the extent to which the intervention achieved, or is expected to achieve, its objectives, and its results, including any differential results across groups”. More details on the methodologies employed to assess Irish Aid’s programmes are outlined in these evaluations, which are publicly available on Gov.ie and/or Ireland.ie. For ease of reference, a list of recent (2024 and 2025) Evaluation and Audit Unit-produced evaluations that include Ireland’s development cooperation programming is provided (each are available online):
www.ireland.ie/en/irish-aid/news-and-publications/publications/publication-index/evaluation-of-irelands-mission-strategy-in-mozambique-final-report/ www.ireland.ie/en/irish-aid/news-and-publications/publications/publication-index/evaluation-of-the-nutrition-and-food-security-outcomes-of-the-sierra-leone-and-liberia-mission-strategies-20192023/
www.gov.ie/en/department-of-public-expenditure-infrastructure-public-service-reform-and-digitalisation/collections/spending-review-2022/
264. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade is she is aware that the new Irish passport card has been refused at airports in Europe (details supplied). [1167/26]
View answerThe passport card was launched in October 2015 and offers Irish citizens the convenience of travel, with a credit card sized travel document, to all EU Member States, the members of the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
The Passport Card is fully compliant with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations concerning requirements for passports in card format.
Ministries of Justice/Home Affairs as relevant in each EU and EEA country, Great Britain and Switzerland have been contacted and informed to ensure that border authorities are fully appraised of the validity of the Irish Passport Card for travel.
The Irish authorities have engaged extensively with our international partners in relation to the card and will continue to do so.
I am satisfied that the Passport Service has taken necessary measures to ensure that authorities in countries that permit the use of passport cards for border entry are aware of the features of the Irish passport card.
The provision of consular assistance to Irish citizens who get into difficulty abroad is a cornerstone of the work of officials in my Department. My officials and I place a strong emphasis on ensuring that Irish citizens receive timely and empathetic consular assistance in accordance with the Department’s Consular Assistance Charter. Citizens experiencing difficulty with acceptance of passport cards in the airports of EU and EEA countries, Great Britain and Switzerland can contact my Department for consular assistance.
265. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade her views on the recognition of Somaliland as an independent state. [1275/26]
View answerIreland recognises the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Federal Republic of Somalia, in line with its constitution and the Charters of the United Nations and of the African Union. In common with our EU partners, the UN and the African Union, we consider Somaliland to be a region of Somalia, with special autonomous status.
The Government believes that a permanent solution to the status of Somaliland should be reached through negotiations between the authorities of Somaliland and the Federal Government of Somalia. We would not seek to influence the outcome of any such process, other than to state that it must be acceptable to both parties. Ireland’s Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Somalia, based in Kenya, are monitoring developments in Somalia closely, including through cooperation with the EU Delegation in Mogadishu.
Ireland has provided consistent humanitarian and development support to the people of Somalia through our international development programme, Irish Aid. We have worked with partners to assist Somalia in dealing with the combined impact of conflict, climate change and significant development challenges. Ireland will continue to work with EU partners to promote stability, humanitarian access, democratic governance, and conflict prevention in Somalia and the wider region.
266. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if she will consider the establishment of a trade office in Taipei, along the lines of the existing EU office or those of other EU member states; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1315/26]
View answerIreland, along with our EU partners, adheres to the One China Policy. This means that we recognise the People's Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, and that we do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. However, the absence of diplomatic of relations does not preclude the development of economic, cultural and people-to-people connections. Nor does it preclude the meaningful participation of Taiwan in relevant multilateral fora, as appropriate.
The European Union is represented in Taiwan by the European Economic and Trade Office, established in 2003. This office represents all EU Member States, including Ireland, and seeks to strengthen economic and trade relations with Taiwan. There has also been a Taipei Representative Office in Dublin since 1988.
There are currently no plans to establish a trade office in Taipei. IDA Ireland, the agency responsible for attracting foreign direct investment to Ireland, actively manages the Taiwanese market from its Singapore office. Enterprise Ireland, the agency responsible for enterprise development, manages the Taiwan market from its office in Hong Kong.
The establishment of new offices is always kept under review. However, it should be noted that the opening of new offices is a resource-intensive process. Such decisions are evaluated on the basis of a number of factors, including cost-benefit considerations and whether existing offices can adequately cover the work. Ultimately there are a range of policy considerations before such decisions are taken, including alignment with Government policy.
267. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the amount the Government has spent on initiatives to encourage the diaspora to return home in each of the years 2023, 2024, and 2025; the budget initiatives for 2026, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1325/26]
View answer268. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide a list of the initiatives used to encourage the diaspora to return home; the number of the diaspora who returned home, in each of the years 2023 to 2025, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1326/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 268 together.
In the period in question the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade did not fund initiatives specifically aimed at encouraging members of the diaspora to return to Ireland.
Our priority, in line with commitments in the Programme for Government and the current Diaspora Strategy, is to coordinate the monitoring of barriers faced by those wishing to return and adopting measures to reduce them, wherever possible.
This work is one of the priorities of the Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad, which I chair. The Committee brings together representatives of key government departments and external stakeholders, who we work with closely.
Through the Emigrant Support Programme, the Department provides annual funding to Irish based organisations such as Crosscare and Safe Home, both of which assist returning emigrants. We also fund the Citizens' Information Board to maintain the "Returning to Ireland" portal, which provides a wide range of practical information and advice for returning emigrants and the "Back for Business" initiative, which provides peer guidance to early stage entrepreneurs who have returned, or plan to return, and wish to start their own business. Details of this funding can be found on our website.
This work will remain a priority in our new Diaspora Strategy which will be launched in April.
The Department and our missions abroad continue to support initiatives by other departments and agencies aimed at providing information on employment opportunities in Ireland, including the HSE's recent engagement with the Irish healthcare diaspora.
