Our greatest export has always been our people – Irish abroad can play valuable role in nation's future & global links

The Irish Sun

09-07-2025

IRELAND this week launched an online consultation for the Irish diaspora: The Global Irish Survey.
Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond, made the announcement on a visit to
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Minister Neale Richmond said the Irish abroad can play a huge role in the nation's future on the global stage
Credit: Getty
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Minister Richmond has said he wants to hear from Irish expats around the world
Credit: PA
The survey is the latest in a series of consultations he is having with Irish communities around the world as part of the
To date, he has met with representatives of the Irish community in Nairobi,
In the weeks and months ahead, he will host sessions in the
Writing in the Irish Sun today, Minister Richmond says he has heard first hand from many remarkable members of our diaspora on the challenges and opportunities of being Irish overseas.
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IRELAND has come a long way since some of the darkest days in our
Emigration has always been a constant for the people of this country.
Indeed, the Great Hunger and various periods of our past, where poverty and unemployment were extremely high, were times of significant migration from our island.
Many of the people who left these shores in the 1980s, for example, would barely recognise the country which they left all those years ago.
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Plenty of the Irish diaspora have made incredibly successful careers and livelihoods for themselves all across the world — the Irish American story is one significant pillar of the fabled 'American Dream' — but equally the Irish have also experienced significant discrimination.
One need only think of the 'No Blacks, No Dogs, No Irish' signs which were commonplace in London in the 1950s.
The story of the Irish abroad is one of opportunity and hard work.
Our greatest export has always been our people.
GREATEST EXPORT
They have always enriched the different places which they call their new home, despite the reasons for leaving.
But who or what is the Irish diaspora in 2025? How do we define that; and do we have a catch all representation of this diaspora?
In line with commitments in the Programme for Government, work is underway on preparing the development of the next Diaspora Strategy.
Central to this is a series of consultations, which I am in the process of conducting, with diaspora communities and key stakeholders overseas and in Ireland.
Since my appointment as Minister with responsibility for the Diaspora, this process of con-sultation has taken me to Brussels, Nairobi, Boston, Philadelphia, Glasgow, and Manchester.
INCLUSIVE APPROACH
In the weeks and months ahead, I will host sessions in the Middle East, across the US and Canada and at home to name but a few.
This week, I launched the first ever global online consultation of the Irish Diaspora - the Irish Abroad: The Global Irish Survey.
This survey will build on the in-person consultations and ensure we hear from as many voices as possible in order to reflect the diversity and values of our contemporary diaspora.
The findings of the survey will feed into our consideration of the new strategy.
LISTENING EAR
It will also form the baseline for future surveys with the intention to roll others out on a regular basis, and to build up a picture over time of interests and issues that Irish communities overseas feel are important.
The world, Ireland and immigration has changed since our last strategy was launched in 2020.
To understand the issues affecting both long-standing emigrants and newer arrivals, I am keen to hear from a range of voices and experiences in order to ensure the new strategy meets the needs of global Irish communities and can adapt to evolving circumstances.
As I'm finding out as I meet people all over the world, 'Ireland' and 'the Irish' are terms that mean a lot of different things to different sections of our diaspora.
It is important that we continue to take a broad and inclusive definition of our diaspora that reflects our modern and diverse Ireland.
REAL WORLD BENEFIT
We are a community that encompasses Irish born citizens; and those with parents or grandparents born on the island; others with ancestral ties, as well as an affinity diaspora who may have once lived, studied or worked here; and those who hold a deep appreciation for our people and culture.
Getting to hear the views of Ireland's diaspora has allowed me to delve into and reflect on some of the key issues facing our diaspora, but also some of the opportunities that the Irish abroad community presents for us as a nation.
Our new diaspora strategy is not just about staying in touch with our Irish abroad, but provides very real benefits during these uncertain economic times.
Our diaspora and affinity diaspora who live in the US provide us with very real and tangible benefits through their connections to state legislators and the business community.
These relationships, in the US and elsewhere, are crucial to copper-fastening our current trading relationships, but also in forging new ones.
FUTURE ROLE
During my most recent trip to the US, I launched the Ireland-Massachusetts Trade Forum.
This forum consists of Massachusetts state legislators, business leaders, educators and academics.
These people, with their profound connections to Ireland, provide us with the expertise and links to opportunities.
As the world becomes an ever more uncertain place, our Irish abroad can play a growing role.
We need a truly representative diaspora strategy.
To achieve this, we need to hear from you.