Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I propose to share time with my colleague, Deputy Allen.

Fine Gael supports this motion in so far as it goes. It is an important motion for our emigrants abroad and Fine Gael treat this as a very significant matter. The party leader sees this area as sufficiently important to justify the creation of a portfolio for it on the Front Bench and I am gratified that he has asked me to handle it.

I have spent much time on this issue over the last few months and, along with Dáil colleagues, have visited England and America. I do not want to be political in this matter, but the Government has a poor enough record, based on my observations of the conditions of Irish immigrants in America. I will come back to this in a minute.

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