THE TÁNAISTE HAS revealed that significant progress has been made to the Government’s plan to bring Hollywood’s biggest stars to Ireland for a World Actors Forum in 2013.

In his progress report on last October’s Global Irish Economic Forum, Eamon Gilmore said the ‘Davos for the Arts’ event will be held next year and not in 2014 as previously reported.

He said other initiatives, including the year-long ‘Gathering’ in 2013 to boost tourism figures and ‘Succeed in Ireland’ which aims to provide direct financial incentives to people around the world to create employment in Ireland, have also progressed significantly.

Gilmore said that since the forum was held on the 7-8 October, the Government has “moved quickly to ensure that the energy and determination shown by participants…has been translated into actions”.

He also thanked members of the Global Irish Network and the wider diaspora for their “direct assistance with our efforts to deliver economic recovery”.

After receiving the report from the 2011 forum, the Government focused on a number of priorities, including job creation, inward investment, support for SME and export sectors and improving international reputation.

Gilmore said President Bill Clinton’s roundtable in New York in February helped him and the Taoiseach present Ireland’s case for foreign direct investment to major US corporations who have yet to come here.

Since the forum, a formal advocacy system has been established and advocates have been working with a number of missions in preparing the overseas St Patrick’s Day programme.

In terms of jobs, the Tánaiste said members of the Global Irish Network contribute to the mentoring, coaching and sponsorship of Irish companies. A new scheme has also provided placements for Irish graduates in firms linked to Global Irish Network members.

Communications between the Government and members is continuing through a regular e-letter from the Taoiseach and Tánaiste.

Other achievements listed by Gilmore included:

• the provision of support for indigenous small businesses to access capital, in particular micro-financing.
• the introduction of amendments by the Minister for Justice and Equality to our visa arrangements to improve access to Ireland for those seeking to study and invest here.
• the development by members of the Global Irish Network of a new loan guarantee scheme, known as Síol.
• the decision by the Export Trade Council on 16 February to formalise Global Irish Network involvement in Trade Missions.
• the establishment of an Advisory Group for the Global Irish Network to be co-chaired by the Taoiseach and Tánaiste and include Global Irish Network members from each of the main geographic areas represented at Dublin Castle. This group will be charged with coordinating the overall work programme for the Global Irish Network.

The Global Irish Network is made up of about 350 influential individuals from almost 40 countries.

In his progress report, Gilmore said they play an “increasingly important role in facilitating investment into Ireland”, as well as in advising exporters and promoting reputation.

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