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Minister Colm Brophy meeting Irish community representatives around the world

Since taking up his new role as Minister of State for the Diaspora, Minister Colm Brophy TD has ‘gone around the world in 30 days’, virtually meeting with representatives from Irish community groups in every region, including the Americas, Oceania and the Gulf.

 

Speaking today, Minister Brophy said:

In my new role as Minister for the Diaspora, I have been struck by the way in which Irish communities around the world have rallied around and come together to support one another.

In the face of the unprecedented obstacles created by the Covid-19 pandemic, Irish communities have demonstrated our resilience as a people.  Every conversation I have had with community representatives, however far-flung their location, has brought up innovative efforts to combat social isolation and negative impacts on mental health, and to provide emergency relief to those affected by the pandemic.

Above all, what shines through is the spirit of kindness, mutual assistance and strength in adversity that has always characterised Irish communities around the world. The Government will continue to support our communities and ensure that the bond between this Island and our people overseas continues to strengthen.

 

An important topic of discussion was the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Irish communities worldwide and the challenge it poses to mental health. Many organisations shared their experiences of refocusing their efforts to ensure they could continue to deliver essential services to the most vulnerable members of Irish diaspora communities, in particular the elderly.

 

To ensure communities abroad were being protected and supported, the Government put in place a Covid-19 Response Fund for Irish Communities Abroad in April from which many organisations have benefited. The emphasis was on funding projects which mitigated the impacts of social isolation; which protected those most vulnerable; which provided mental health supports; and which supported the provision of online services.

 

To date, the emergency fund has disbursed over €1.1 million to projects serving Irish communities overseas, benefiting a wide variety of projects.