THE IRISH government does not have the necessary resources to implement its “aspirational” Diaspora Policy, Sinn Féin has claimed.
Despite Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Tánaiste Joan Burton, Minister for Foreign Affairs Charlie Flanagan and Diaspora Minister Jimmy Deenihan all throwing their weight behind the Global Irish policy launch last month, Sinn Féin Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh believes the team behind it is too small to deliver on its promises.
“The Government’s Diaspora policy is all very aspirational at this stage,” he told The Irish Post in an interview regarding his newly assumed title of Diaspora spokesperson for his party.
“An issue is the resources the department has to deliver on it,” he added, “as it’s a very small team to deliver on all the projects mentioned in the policy.”
The Connemara-based politician, who was born in Huddersfield, explained: “Even if you look at the likes of the Civic Forum, which is due to happen in the next couple of months, people outside of Ireland who are stakeholders will want an input as to how that will be developed, but as far as I know, from talking to people in London at least, they haven’t been put into any steering committee or working group scenario regarding that.
“I’d be concerned about that and I’d be concerned that the department itself is quite stretched with the resources they have at the moment.”
Read the full interview in this week's Irish Post, out tomorrow
