First Certificate Of Irish Heritage To Be Presented In New York

On Monday, Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore presented the first ever Certificate of Irish Heritage to a New York woman whose son was died on 9/11.

Mr Gilmore is in New York to address the United Nations General Assembly, and he will also meet with business leaders and Irish-American groups during his stay.

But a highlight of the visit was the presentation of the certificate to Mrs Bridget Hunter, from Long Island, whose son Joseph was a fireman who died at the Twin Towers ten years ago.

The brief ceremony took place at the fire house in Maspeth, Queens where Joseph worked.

The scheme to provide Certificates to Irish diaspora around the world will be formally launched next month at Dublin Castle during the upcoming Global Irish Economic Forum.

The idea for the certificate was first proposed by Gerry O'Neill, from Monksland in Co. Westmeath more than two years ago.

He suggested to the Irish government that an official document certifying the Irish heritage of people whose ancestors came from Ireland might prove popular.

The idea received support at the first Global Irish Economic Forum at Farmleigh in 2009.

But making it a reality has taken some time, while issues around data protection and contracts were being ironed out.

Fexco, a Kerry-based company of which former Labour leader Dick Spring is a non-executive director, has been awarded the contract to operate the scheme.

Each certificate will cost €40, and will have wording drafted by the Attorney General, and an official harp insignia.

Only those who can present documentary evidence of their Irish heritage will qualify - something like birth, death or marriage certificates, land records, ship manifests, census records or other immigration documents.

Where no such records exist due to the passage of time, applicants will still have the option of swearing a legal affidavit on their Irish heritage.

Although the Certificate has no legal effect, it aims to give an official and practical expression to the sense of Irish identity felt by many around the world.

At current estimates, over 70 million people worldwide claim Irish ancestry.

However, while many of these may be aware of their Irish ancestry and feel a strong affinity for Ireland, most are no longer eligible for Irish citizenship due to the passage of generations.

Existing holders of an Irish passport cannot apply - the scheme is aimed at those who no longer qualify for citizenship.

The certificate should not be seen as a stepping stone to citizenship in any way.

The Irish government is not using the certificates as a money making exercise - in fact, all income from the 12 months of the scheme will go directly to Fexco to cover the cost of setting up the operation.

There is no indication of what demand will be like for the certificates once they are launched.

The government is hoping the scheme will help foster stronger connections with people of Irish heritage around the world, especially in the United States.