THE Irish Government has launched its first Diaspora policy today, which includes an inaugral global conference for Irish community members living abroad.
The new policy is the first official recognition of the status of the Diaspora across the world.
The first Global Civic Forum is due to take place in June and will bring together community leaders and members of the Diaspora to discuss the challenges they face.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny opened the launch event earlier today and commended the work of the Minister of State for Diaspora Affairs, Jimmy Deenihan, who he said was instrumental in introducing the policy.
“Our key focus for this year is to ensure that more people – throughout the country - start to benefit through more jobs or improved income,” he added. “We also want people to be able to come home. I want to see them playing their part in the rebuilding of our economy, bringing home their experience to take up some of the jobs that are now being created.”
The Taoiseach also spoke of his hopes for 2016 – saying it would be the year that the most recent generation of emigrants would be coming home to work.
Also announced at the event in Dublin was the fourth Global Irish Economic Forum, which will take place in November.
Other initiatives announced included a new Global Irish website, a Global Irish Media Fund and an Alumni Challenge Fund, which will target Irish and non-Irish graduates working internationally.
