IRELAND is reaching out to its citizens and their descendants around the globe to help the country get back on its feet.
The call from the Emerald Isle is being carried to 37 countries by delegates who met in Dublin last year to discuss business and cultural exchange opportunities.
The message is due to reach Canberra on Wednesday night, with one of the nine Australian-based participants reporting back to the Canberra Friends of Ireland Society.
The delegate, Sydney-based senior executive of the Westfield group Eamonn Cunningham, said Ireland had tightened its belt and was showing signs of growth.
''The GDP is moderately up, the food and beverage sector are up moderately, these things are encouraging and they are going in the right direction,'' he said.
The Irish government wanted to dispel the notion that all the European countries were handling debt crisis the same way.
It was a message the Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny made clear to business leaders in New York this week: Ireland repays its debts.
He said Ireland was not asking for a debt write down and it would pay its bills on time.
''The former president Mary McAleese spoke at the Dublin forum and she said something that really rang true with me,'' Mr Cunningham said. ''She said that the Irish people had chosen to be brave when adapting to their changing fortunes and adapting to the new era of austerity.
''To use the Australian vernacular, Ireland is copping it sweet right now.''
He said that where other debt-hit European countries had seen massive street protests and social unrest, Ireland was buckling down and getting on with the job of recovery.
Mr Cunningham will speak at the Canberra Friends of Ireland Society on Wednesday at 8pm, at the Canberra Irish Club.
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