AS IRELAND experiences what we hope is the nadir of economic decline and witnesses a resurgence in emigration by young people, there is a tendency to reach for past, dark experiences in order to understand what is going on today. That could be a dangerous, self-defeating response. Of course, forced emigration should end as quickly as possible to minimise its impact on those left behind, on society and on the economy.
Work and travel abroad can, however, provide positive life experiences and are cheerfully embraced by many young people. Coffin ships, Noreen Bawn and “the curse of emigration” represent outdated folk memories. We live in a different world where the Internet and social media provide instant communication along with opportunities to find work, develop businesses and maintain contacts and friendships.
Keeping in touch is the most important aspect of this new world, both for emigrants and for those they have left behind. The series “Generation Emigration”, which has been running in this newspaper and online for the past two weeks, reflects the impact that the Internet, Skype and social networks have on the lives of emigrants. Quite apart from ease of travel, the experience of living far from home has changed dramatically in the last 20 years. The traditional roles played by the Irish pub and community centre in maintaining contacts and finding work have been supplemented, if not superseded, by modern communications. At a different level, successive governments have attempted to harness the goodwill of successful Irish businesspeople from previous waves of emigration and have encouraged them and their companies to invest here. Conferences at Farmleigh and at Dublin Castle have explored ways in which the Irish diaspora can contribute to industrial development and to a revival of the economy. Network sites with economic, cultural, political and sporting links have been established, providing platforms that link the diaspora with their homeland. As part of that process, Bill Clinton will host an Irish economic forum in New York next year to encourage investment.
It is easy to forget, with unemployment at 14.6 per cent and 100 people emigrating every day that similar challenges were overcome in the 1980s. As the economy gathered pace after 1987, the number of returning emigrants rose rapidly each year and peaked at 27,000 in 2002. In those same years, unemployment fell from 15.9 per cent to an historic low of 3.6 per cent. What was achieved once can, with determination, investment and discipline be repeated. There does not have to be a return to negativity and to long-term underachievement.
A recent Irish Times opinion poll indicated that public confidence was severely damaged in the economic downturn. Nearly three in five respondents now believe those people leaving will not return. The Government faces a huge task in lifting that gloom and in generating growth in the economy. In the meantime, keeping in touch with far-flung exiles and making them feel wanted at home should be a priority.