Irish diplomats recalled to discuss Diaspora strategy
By: CATHY HAYES | Published Tuesday, May 31, 2011, 7:55 AM | Updated Tuesday, May 31, 2011, 7:55 AM
Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Eamon Gilmore will hold a conference wiht all his ambassadors and consuls in Dublin, this week, with the aim of building on the political momentum created by Queen Elizabeth and President Barack Obama’s trips to Ireland.
Gilmore has invited 76 ambassadors and consuls to the conference in Dublin. The two-day event will be addressed by Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny on strategies for the promotion of Ireland.
The conference will be a preparation for the second global forum which is due to take place in Dublin this October, at Farmleigh House. Leading figures from the world of business and finance will attend.
This week’s gather also fulfils part of the new government’s Programme for Government as they proposed to recall Ireland’s ambassadors within 100 days of their election for briefings on marketing Ireland.
Gilmore said Obama’s meeting would reassure the US Chamber of Commerce in Ireland with relation to the corporate tax rate. The Tanaiste described trade and employment between the US and Ireland as “two-way traffic”. Currently over 90,000 Irish people are employed by US companies in Ireland while 80,000 Americans are employed by Irish companies in the US.
Speaking to the
Sunday Business Post, Gilmore said the two recent State visits had given Ireland “the opportunity to communicate positive messages and to have a strategy to extend trade and increase tourism, as well as promoting Irish products’’.
Last Monday’s talks at Famleigh House, in the Phoenix Park, between President Obama, Enda Kenny and Eamon Gilmore were upgraded to the status of an official bilateral meeting. They discussed economic affairs and trade, the EU/IMF bailout and the peace process.
This week’s conference’s schedule will include presentations from Danny McCoy, director general of Ibec; John Whelan, chief executive of the Irish Exporters’ Association; Peter Nelson, chief executive of Valentia Technologies; Pat McGrath, managing director of the PM Group; and John Moloney, group managing director of Glanbia.
Presentations will also be given by Frank Ryan of Enterprise Ireland, Barry O’Leary of IDA, Aidan Cotter of Bord Bia and Niall Gibbons of Tourism Ireland.
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.mamaginnty | May 31, 2011, 08:16 PM EDT
GorgieD, please, no more about foreigners. worry about your own country. This will be good for us in Ireland. What I can't understand is why some people sound so jealous of Ireland and its people.
Springfield9 | May 31, 2011, 07:37 PM EDT
Fascinating. Why doesn't Ireland do a bit of DNA testing and separate the Irish (regardless of location) from the "admirers". If you come up with the right Haplotype then further measures might be considered. If you come up as squarely "Algerian" well, best of luck to ya. The fact that Ireland retains the outmoded notion of location time is absurd. A man from Tibet can easily meet the Irish criteria for application for citizenship. The Barbados slave descendants were considered for special treatment. However, those driven out to the coffin ships with 10 shillings to cross (or die) have never meant that much to the Republic. The last appeal to the "Diapora" was by "Dev" in 1917 (?) and he came away with cash. BTW Woodrow Wilson turned his nose up at "Dev".
bunkerhill | May 31, 2011, 04:55 PM EDT
I'm not a bit surprised as I think Ireland will make a remarkable recovery. Their young people are so bright and well educated especially in the engineering fields which are vital to today's world. Whatever the reason, the Irish diaspora has never lost their love for Ireland, and others like myself look on in wonder and envy. I love their homeland too. I don't know if as I have heard, it was watching the hard work and love of parents and grandparents so the next generation could have a better life, or just love and longing for a tiny homeland lost. I have always loved American country western but when I discovered Irish country I was completely taken over. I love the songs that tell of their bautiful homeland and women; their love for their heroes and battles won and lost. However the Irish have another great thing going for them. It is their openness, friendliness and acceptance towards others. They have a great sense of fun and live life with exuberance. As a veteran I can also tell you, you can always count on them when you are in trouble. I am happy that I have lived my life with the Irish or Irish-Americans in my case although we have spent a great deal of time in Ireland.
GeorgeDillon | May 31, 2011, 03:43 PM EDT
Why don't they look to counries like Poland, Romania, Latvia, Slovakia etc. for support? After all Ireland has given citizens of these oountries a standard of living far higher than they could have got in their homelands. Funny, though, not one word of gratitude from these countries or their governments. Ungrateful Bastards.
joan1954 | May 31, 2011, 12:01 PM EDT
Good, now if Ireland would stop preaching to the choir in the US and go to where the new population centers are like my state of Texas then maybe there will be change. I live in the 7th largest city in the nation and we rarely see Irish officials especially from the tourism sector.
Ms.Gail | May 31, 2011, 11:54 AM EDT
Excellent!
deburca | May 31, 2011, 10:35 AM EDT
It's so good to see this shift toward focusing on the future instead of all the hand wringing.
Chiefjustice | May 31, 2011, 10:21 AM EDT
Now, this is what is called GOOD NEWS...