Welcome
I am delighted to welcome you to this website of the Global Irish Economic Forum and the Global Irish Network.
One of Ireland’s greatest resources has always been her people. Successive Irish Governments have built a multi-layered relationship with the Diaspora that has marked us as a role model for many other countries. I will continue to ensure that the enhancement of our connections with members of the global Irish community remains central to Government policy.
The establishment of a permanent global network of those invited to the initial Global Irish Economic forum, and other influential members of the Diaspora was identified as an important objective by 2009 Forum participants. In early 2010, the Global Irish Network was launched and now comprises of over 300 of the most influential Irish and Irish-connected individuals abroad. Members of the Network, who come from a diversity of fields and are based in almost 40 countries, provide Ireland with an invaluable resource of international expertise from which we can draw as we work towards economic recovery. Since its inception, the Network has worked closely with the Government and State Agencies in promoting Ireland’s economic, cultural and tourism messages in key markets. The Network is also a key partner in our ongoing efforts to restore our international reputation.
The success of Network members is testament to the hard work, innovation and ability which characterises the Irish abroad. Members have clearly demonstrated a willingness to engage in delivering economic recovery in Ireland. The connections made and ideas generated have demonstrated that in this modern globalised world, the reach, power and influence of so many members of the Irish Diaspora can provide Ireland with an important competitive edge. Harnessing this potential provides the State with a significant asset in engaging new and emerging markets.
The second Global Irish Economic Forum was held in Dublin Castle October 2011 and was highly successful. Convened by the Government, it brought together some 270 members of the Global Irish Network drawn from 37 countries with the Taoiseach, Government, State Agencies and domestic business leaders for a frank and intensive exchange of ideas on the Government’s priorities for economic renewal, job creation and the restoration of Ireland’s reputation abroad.
The format of the event comprised plenary sessions and working groups, based on the priorities in the Programme for Government. A number of the plenary sessions and breakout panel discussions were streamed live and be viewed here. The full Report of the Forum is now available. It was prepared by the Smurfit Business School and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and including full details of the outcomes form the working groups that took place during the event.
Having reviewed the outcomes of the Forum, the Government identified 12 initiatives for priority delivery, including a World Actors’ Forum, improving access to Ireland for those seeking to do business or study here, increased mentoring and graduate placement schemes, and encouraging the development of an investment scheme to provide loans to small Irish businesses through the Diaspora.
Our primary goal is to ensure that the Forum makes a tangible contribution to Ireland’s economic recovery. We will therefore work to ensure that in 12 months time, the post Forum process has contributed: to the re-envisaging of Ireland; to the restoration of our international reputation; to the re-engagement of Ireland with its friends and allies abroad; to the re-energising of the country; and to the domestic reform process.
Eamon Gilmore, T.D.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
Cúis áthais dom fáilte a chur romhaibh ar an suíomh seo atá tiomnaithe don bhFóram Domhanda faoi Eacnamaíocht na hÉireann agus do Ghréasán Domhanda na hÉireann.
Nuair a tionóladh an Fóram Domhanda faoi Eacnamaíocht na hÉireann don chéad uair i mí Meán Fómhair 2009 in eastát Farmleigh, lámh le Baile Átha Cliath, ócáid fíor-stairiúil a bhí ann. Chruinnigh 130 ceannaire gnóthas, a raibh ceangaltas ar fud an domhain acu, le féachaint cén chaoi an gcuirfeadh na hÉireannaigh sa bhaile agus thar lear le chéile, maille leo siúd a raibh suim daingean acu in Éirinn, chun tacú le téarnamh na heacnamaíochta.
Buan-ghréasán domhanda a bhunú a chuimseodh na daoine sin a fuair cuireadh chuig an Fóram i bhFarmleigh, maraon le lucht tionchair i measc na nGael i gcéin, bhí sé le háireamh ar na mór-aidhmeanna, dar lena raibh i láthair. Rinneadh Gréasán Domhanda na hÉireann a sheoladh go luath sa bhliain 2010 agus tá 300 duine páirteach ann, idir Éireannaigh agus daoine eile a bhfuil nasc le hÉirinn acu. Baineann comhaltaí an Ghréasáin le réimsí difriúla, tá siad ag cur fúthu i mbeagnach 40 tír agus is foinse ríluachmhar againn iad nuair is gá saineolas idirnáisiúnta agus muid ag saothrú téarnamh na heacnamaíochta. Ó cuireadh tús leis an nGréasán bliain ó shin, tá sé ag obair go dlúth leis an Rialtas agus leis na forais Stáit ag craobhscaoileadh deáscéal na hÉireann maidir le cúrsaí eacnamaíochta, cultúrtha agus turasóireachta ar na príomh-mhargaí.
An méid atá curtha i gcrích ag comhaltaí an Ghréasáin is teist é ar an treallús, ar an nuálaíocht agus ar an inniúlacht is dual do na hÉireannaigh thar lear. Tá sé léirithe go soiléir ag na comhaltaí go bhfuil siad toilteanach bheith páirteach in athghabháil an ghéilleagair in Éirinn. Is léir ó na ceangaltais atá déanta agus na moltaí a ceapadh go dtí seo go bhfuil líon mór daoine i measc na nGael i gcéin a bhfuil an scóip agus an chumhacht agus an tionchar acu a chuirfeadh faobhar ar leith ar iarracht na hÉireann san iomaíocht idirnáisiúnta. Bua ar leith don Stát an acmhainn seo agus muid ag dul i ngleic le margadh nua nó margadh éiritheach.
D’fhógair mé i mí Bealtaine 2011 go raibh fúm an dara Fóram Domhanda faoi Eacnamaíocht na hÉireann a ghairm i mí Deireadh Fómhair. Tá cuireadh tugtha agam do gach comhalta de Ghréasán Domhanda na hÉireann agus údar sásaimh dom na freagraí a fritheadh go dtí seo. Seo í an chéad ócáid don Ghréasán uile go léir a theacht le chéile agus tá mé ag súil le dianchaibidil oscailteach faoi aidhmeanna an Rialtais i leith athnuachan na heacnamaíochta, giniúint fostaíochta agus athghabháil dea-chlú na hÉireann thar lear.
Áirítear a muintir i measc príomh-acmhainní na hÉireann riamh anall. Chothaigh Rialtas na hÉireann, beag beann ar an bpáirtí polaitiúil a bheadh ann, caidreamh ilghnéitheach leis na Gaeil i gcéin, ar eiseamláir é ag go leor tíortha eile. Tá fúm a chinntiú gur cuid bhunúsach de bheartas an Rialtais é i gcónaí an nasc sin atá againn le muintir na hÉireann ar fud na cruinne a bhreisiú agus a fheabhsú.
Éamon Gilmore T.D.
Tánaiste agus Aire Gnóthaí Eachtracha agus Trádála