An Irish minister on a listening tour of the UAE has pledged support to the country's growing population in the Emirates and said the government was working to address issues back home such as housing.
Neale Richmond, Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, acknowledged housing provision was an area of concern for those might wish to return to Ireland but the government was “committed” to building more.
Mr Richmond will hold several consultations with Irish residents during the four-day trip to inform a new government strategy on assisting the Irish abroad.
He will also hold talks with UAE ministers and visit the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Dubai, where Ireland stores aid for conflict zones such as Gaza.
But he was also in the UAE to state the Irish government was listening to Irish residents who have come to the country.
“We do not have enough houses in Ireland,” Mr Richmond told The National on Tuesday. “We do not have enough houses for teachers, for nurses, for businesspeople,” he added, stating it was across the board.
Population surge
It comes when the Irish population in the UAE is now close to 14,000 – the highest it has ever been – and growing about 10 per cent a year driven by many factors such as salaries, job opportunities and lifestyles in the UAE.
But people are also coming to the UAE because of key challenges Ireland faces, chiefly housing, but also cost of living.
Thousands of Irish teachers are also part of the community and, with teacher shortages back in Ireland, Mr Richmond acknowledged one of the biggest issues, not just for educators but across the board, was accommodation.
“If you're teaching in my constituency in a south Dublin primary school and your commute is an hour and a half – you start to question, 'Do I need to spend three hours of my life in a car?' We take that on the chin.”
Building for the future
He said the government was committed to building more houses, building more schools and improving schools. And he said “teachers' pay will go up and we're also making their conditions better”.
“We're never going to compete directly with the salaries that are paid here,” he said. “We want to make sure that those teachers who want to come home have pathways to come home.”
He said the government was also working to see if time spent abroad could be considered when educators move home.
Recent figures published by Ireland’s central statistics office showed that more than 149,000 people entered Ireland, or immigrated, in the 12 months to April last year – a 16-year high. About 30,000 were Irish citizens returning.
But 69,000 people departed Ireland – the highest since 2015 – and including 35,000 Irish citizens.
Ireland has also seen a surge in asylum claims over the past several years.
“I think those who equate immigration as being the sole issue affecting our housing situation are missing the very real point,” said Mr Richmond.
“We're not building enough houses,” he said. “I'm not shying away from it.”
Gaza aid effort
Mr Richmond also has responsibility for international development and, on Wednesday will visit the UN Humanitarian Response Depot in Dubai on where Ireland stores significant amounts of humanitarian supplies that are dispatched to Gaza but also other places such as Afghanistan and South Sudan. He said Ireland is keen to ramp up Gaza aid efforts with the UAE.
“The UAE has a great ability to get humanitarian aid into Gaza,” said Mr Richmond. “And that's the biggest issue – actually getting that aid in.
“Until recently, we had a number of lorries of Irish humanitarian aid stuck in Jordan for about three months and we want to make sure that we can actually get aid into Gaza,” said Mr Richmond. “And of all the countries that have been able to get humanitarian aid in, the UAE is the best, and we want to make sure that we can work as closely with them.”
Mr Richmond will also meet UAE ministers such as Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, and Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Co-operation during the visit and will talk to key members of the Irish business community.
Today, at least 70 Irish businesses are present in the UAE with more than 200 Irish companies exporting to the UAE market.
Another issue for the Irish abroad is securing the ability to vote in presidential elections with an election due next month. Previous governments have announced plans to hold a referendum in Ireland to decide the issue.
“I think it's a good thing,” he said. “But I don't want to run a referendum I'm going to lose. So that hasn't been cracked yet so we're reflecting.”
Mr Richmond said his message to the Irish community here was that Ireland was “proud” of what they have achieved and the embassy was always there to help.
And for those residents who are thinking of returning, Ireland was “making it easier”.
“We know we need to do more,” he said. “But we really are going to do more.”
Reputation
Taylor Swift
(Big Machine Records)
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Hobbies: Salsa dancing “It's in my blood” and listening to music in different languages
Favourite place to travel to: “Thailand, as it's gorgeous, food is delicious, their massages are to die for!”
Favourite food: “I'm a vegetarian, so I can't get enough of salad.”
Favourite film: “I love watching documentaries, and am fascinated by nature, animals, human anatomy. I love watching to learn!”
Best spot in the UAE: “I fell in love with Fujairah and anywhere outside the big cities, where I can get some peace and get a break from the busy lifestyle”
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Know before you go
- Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
- If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
- By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
- Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
- Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz GLA
Price, base / as tested Dh150,900 / Dh173,600
Engine 2.0L inline four-cylinder
Transmission Seven-speed automatic
Power 211hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 1,200rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
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HERO%20CUP%20TEAMS
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Find the right policy for you
Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.
Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.
Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.
Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.
If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.
Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.
Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Traits of Chinese zodiac animals
Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent
