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Sally Corcoran

I joined IFAFA as soon as it started. The first meeting was in New

York, in Bernadette Hamill’s kitchen. They had a difficult time in

New York and Bernadette felt the lack of support. The second

meeting was held in Buswells Hotel in Dublin and it was very well

attended, 50-60 people. And that is when I joined.

After our posting to Paris, 1982-1987, I applied to study at UCD in

Dublin. I got into a course and I also started working at UCD. My

husband died in 1993 so it was lucky that I had a job. In 1988, I

joined the IFAFA Committee. I took on different roles. I was the

editor of our Newsletter. Back then, you had to photocopy

everything and then we posted hard copies to our members and

missions. Getting people to contribute was hard but once they did,

it was really popular. We also published who goes to which posting

so the Newsletter would be passed from hand to hand at Embassies

because people wanted to know who was where. I also started a

drop-in lunch once a month. It is still running today.

In my years on the Committee, we would collect ideas from

members and then discuss at the Committee which issue to

highlight with Human Resources. For example, we raised the issue

of non-married partners who did not get any health insurance. And

of course, retirement pensions have been on the agenda for years

and years. At every meeting we would press the button. Other

countries have done it so why not us. At the very least, they should

pay our PRSI. People are expected to make life-changing moves and

what are they going to get out of it? However, it was always

refused, always with the same argument – that the Department of

Finance would not have it. It should stay on the agenda; it is very

important.

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