Irish Echo News

Australia will contribute just four of the 180 delegates at a Global Economic Forum this weekend in Ireland aimed at harnessing the collective power of the diaspora.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce and Optus CEO Paul O’Sullivan,  both Dubliners, will be there along with Australia Ireland Fund chairman Charles Curran and Skilled Group founder Frank Hargrave.

Irish Ambassador to Australia – Mairtín O Fáinín – who put forward a list of potential invitees to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin would not reveal the full list but the the Irish Echo understands that at least two others were invited – author Thomas Keneally and former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating – but neither could attend.

Despite the high profile of the Australian representatives, there is a sense of disappointment in the Irish business community that the Embassy did not seek to have a larger representation.

Peter Brennan, Chairman of the successful Sydney-based Lansdowne Club business network said he thought it was an opportunity missed.

“From an economic perspective, Australia is the only country that did not have a recession and a larger representation would have added a lot of value to discussions,” he told the Echo. “With so few from Australia, any outcome could lack relevance to Irish Australians.”

While the Global Economic Forum is designed to be a gathering from around the diaspora, at least one fifth of delegates are based in Ireland.

The guest list includes Celtic shareholder Dermot Desmond, Riverdance creators John McColgan and Moya Doherty, Aer Lingus Chairman Colm Barrington and Bob Geldof.

Other Ireland-based attendees include film-maker Neil Jordan, GAA President Christy Cooney and Cathal Goan, Director General of RTE.

The vast majority of the overseas delegates come from the United States and the UK. Other  regions represented include China, Singapore, Thailand, Dubai, South Korea, Canada, Indonesia and the Phillipines.

The idea of the forum is to come up with fresh ideas to aid economic recovery.

Members of the Cabinet and opposition politicians are also expected to attend.

Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin said the event was about tapping into and harnessing the talents and ideas of the Irish diaspora for the long-term recovery of the country.

“Travelling at their own expense, and giving freely of their time and expertise, these invitees reflect the enduring willingness of the Irish abroad to engage with and support Ireland,” said Mr Martin.

“I am interested in people identifying for us the new areas we should go down.

“In the 1980s it was financial services.

“Are there new sectors waiting to be grabbed by Ireland?” he asked.

The forum was the brainchild of economist and broadcaster David McWilliams, who warned the economy would crash as the country relied too heavily on the building boom.

He said the Government now has the power to bring it to fruition.

“I think what we have in Ireland is that we are all on the same side more or less, and that’s no a party political thing to say,” said Mr Williams.

“People realise that we are now in the crisis and that we don’t have all the talent here to figure it out.

“This can only enhance the county, it can’t detract from it at all.”

Taoiseach Brian Cowen sent a personal letter to 200 guests in April, with RSVP’s from as far as US, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, China, Argentina, Europe and the Middle East.

The economy, Ireland’s image abroad, promoting brand Ireland, and positioning the country for the upturn will be top of the agenda during five sessions and 11 small breakout working groups over September 18th and 19th.

The programme also features a number of hospitality events, including a reception hosted by President McAleese at Aras an Uachtarain, a dinner at Dublin Castle hosted by the Tanaiste Mary Coughlan, and a flavour of home at the All-Ireland Football Final.

Mr Martin revealed the aim was for business leaders to analyse current policies and come up to new ideas that will benefit the country, attract new investment, and aid job creation.

“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,” he added.

“The positive reaction with which invitees have greeted the initiative augurs well for its success.”

For full details visit www.globalirishforum.ie

RTE is also carrying a live stream of proceedings. More details from http://www.rte.ie/news/features/economicforum/