- • Minister emphasises the important role of the Irish Diaspora in meeting the current challenges facing Ireland
- • On his first visit to the US as Diaspora Minister, Minister McHugh visited Silicon Valley & met with US investors
- • Minister discussed the role of technology in assisting the Irish Diaspora at meetings with LinkedIn, Facebook & the Irish Technology & Leadership Group
In San Francisco today (Friday), the Minister for the Diaspora and International Development, Joe McHugh T.D. delivered the keynote address to the Irish Network USA 4th Annual Conference. This is Minister McHugh’s first visit to the USA in his capacity as Minister for the Diaspora.
In his address, the Minister explored the evolving nature of Ireland’s Global Diaspora and the importance of the Global Irish community, particularly in the US, in addressing the economic and political challenges facing Ireland.
He emphasised the important role of the Irish Diaspora in Ireland’s economic recovery and continued growth, praising the role of the Global Irish Network, the Global Irish Economic Forum and the Global Irish Civic Forum.
Minister McHugh addressed the audience on a range of topics including Ireland’s approach to Brexit.
Minister McHugh stated:
“It was a real pleasure to engage with the participants at the IN-USA Annual Conference. This is my first visit to the US since my appointment as Minister for the Diaspora and it is an excellent and timely opportunity for me to discuss key economic and political challenges with influential members of the Irish and Irish-American community.
“I have also had a wider discussion with participants at the Conference on the role which the Irish diaspora can play as we develop our national response to the many global challenges facing us today”.
In the course of his visit, Minister McHugh met with a number of influential Irish leaders operating in Silicon Valley as well as leading US multinationals who have invested in Ireland, the Minister said:
“Over the course of my visit I have met with LinkedIn and Facebook as well as the Irish Technology & Leadership Group (ITLG) to hear their perspective on how technology can assist our diaspora in the future. I am anxious to explore further how new technologies and social media can increase the connection our emigrants feel with home and can facilitate better communication between our Global Irish family.”
In the course of his visit, Minister McHugh met with several Irish community groups in the Bay Area. He emphasised the Government’s commitment to working in partnership with the Diaspora and promised to continue to implement its Diaspora Policy – Global Irish.
ENDS
Press Office
16 September 2016
Notes for editors
Irish Network USA (IN-USA), with 21 chapters across the US, is a key diaspora organisation composed of young Irish and Irish-American business leaders. The organisation receives funding under the Department’s Emigrant Support Programme
This engagement is the centrepiece of the Minister’s visit to the Bay Area which also marks his first visit to the US since his appointment as Minister for the Diaspora.
Over the course of his visit the Minister has also met a number of key Irish community organisations operating in the Bay Area to thank them for the great service that they provide to the Irish community and to discuss the evolving needs of that important community.
He also had the opportunity to meet influential Irish leaders operating in Silicon Valley as well as leading US multinationals who have invested in Ireland. These meetings were an opportunity to recognise the great contribution these companies are making to job creation in Ireland and to discuss potential opportunities for investment in Ireland and for Irish companies wishing to do business in Silicon Valley.
Given their expertise in the area, the Minister also discussed how best to utilise new and innovative communications technologies to better connect with and network the Global Irish.
The Minister’s full address to the IN-USA Conference follows.