Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin T.D., publishes the Report of the inaugural Global Irish Economic Forum which took place in Farmleigh on 18-20 September 2009.
For more information on the Forum, please choose from the following options:
Minister's Welcome - The Global Irish Economic Forum.
The Global Irish Economic Forum, which was held at the Farmleigh Estate near Dublin on the weekend of 18-20 September 2009, was a unique event. It brought together, for the first time, the most influential members of the global Irish community with a record of high achievement in business and culture, as well as a number of individuals with a strong business connection to Ireland. The tremendous success of those who attended is testament to the hard work, innovation and ability which characterises the Irish abroad.
Successive Irish Governments have built a multi-layered relationship with the Diaspora that has marked us as a role model for many other countries. Where we have worked closely together, such as in the peace process in Northern Ireland, the rewards have been immense.
Changing social and economic circumstances means there is now a need, and an opportunity, to reposition this relationship - to review progress made and establish new goals.
Over the course of the Forum, attendees explored how the Irish, at home and abroad, and those with a strong interest in Ireland, can work together to contribute to our overall efforts at economic renewal and to build new connections between Ireland and our global community.
The global Irish community of seventy million people is both a testament to the experience of previous generations of Irish emigrants and a powerful resource for the future. I believe that the Global Irish Economic Forum has the potential to be an extremely significant event, both as a step towards addressing our current economic challenges and as a platform for the development of a long term strategy which will channel the enormous potential of this global community. The extremely positive reaction with which invitees greeted the initiative augurs well. It is evidence of the enduring willingness of the Irish abroad to engage with and support Ireland.
This website has been designed to provide those interested in the Forum with background to the event. I hope you find it informative and useful.