Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I compliment the Labour Party on tabling this motion. I followed closely the discussion on this matter in the Dáil when it was discussed two months ago. If anything, the "Prime Time" programme of 22 December last helped to focus many minds on this issue. I watched the programme with a great deal of nostalgia. I could empathise with much of what the programme portrayed. I grew up in west Limerick and, like many other people, I emigrated in the early 1960s owing to the lack of employment in the area. Available employment was often casual in nature.

Senator Henry referred to the Innisfallen. I travelled to England on that ship and through a combination of bus and rail travel, I travelled for almost 24 hours before reaching my destination in Torquay, Devonshire. I got seasick on many trips during the winter. I do not tell this as a hard luck story. I was probably fortunate to gain employment in England and take a course before coming back to Ireland. I enriched my experience by living in England for a time.

The 1950s and 1960s were cruel times. I grew up in Foynes and a sanatorium was established there for those suffering with tuberculosis, which was rampant at the time. I knew many people who suffered from the disease and were committed to the sanatoria in Foynes or Glanmire. Those were harsh times for employment too. Similar problems were experienced in employment in the 1980s. We are fortunate to have seen a change in the other direction in recent years. However, this does not stop us feeling sympathy for many of the people who emigrated to England in the 1950s and 1960s. Owing to the lump system that operated in England, many of these emigrants now find themselves in harsh economic circumstances.

It would have saddened anyone to watch the "Prime Time" programme that dealt with the issue. I was driving when I heard Deputy Stagg's contribution to the Dáil debate on this issue relayed on the "Vincent Browne Show". I felt a lump form in my throat as I listened to it. I asked myself what we could do for these people.

The Government amendment welcomes the additional funding provided in this year's foreign affairs Vote. The funding increased last September from €3 million to €4 million. The Minister for Foreign Affairs told the Dáil that this doubled the amount of €2 million spent by the coalition in 1995, 1996 and 1997. Why do Ministers always hark back to 1997? While the amount may have been doubled, it has only been doubled over a period of six years. We have enjoyed an economic boom in the interim. I remind Government Members that the boom catapulted them back into government in the last election.

This House recently discussed the disbursement of the dormant accounts fund. The money was to be allocated to disadvantaged sectors in different areas. Today we were notified of a tranche of funds that has been allocated from this scheme. This is largesse that the Government would not have anticipated receiving in 1997, or even in 2001. The fund was set up arising from work undertaken by the Committee of Public Accounts and the late Jim Mitchell. It is worth bearing in mind that the fund contains €175 million that was not known about four or five years ago. This will increase to about €400 million from next April when the insurance funds come into it.

Finance is highly important. Mary Creagh, leader of the Labour Party in Islington, recently said that funding for the local Irish centre had been cut and the Irish Government did nothing for it other than offer warm words. The centre exists to look after Irish people. While Islington may be prosperous, just as Camden Town and Kentish Town evoke certain memories, there are areas all over Britain where Irish people live in poverty. Many of the hostels they live in are sustained by charitable or religious organisations.

The Government should not boast that it has increased funding by one third from €3 million to €4 million. Money exists in the dormant accounts fund and something positive can be done with it. The task force, under the chairmanship of Paddy O'Hanlon, must be complimented for what it proposed. The Government should identify projects and release a decent chunk of funding.

There is a fundamental point behind this. The people living in England do not have votes here. Not alone are we neglecting emigrants, we are also cutting funds for widows and widowers. This is having a serious effect on this sector of the community and those affected feel the State is letting them down. Once a Government receives a significant majority, I often wonder if it forgets about the small things that count. If the Minister wants funding, that disbursement account is there, but the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív has hijacked the funding along with the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern, since in future, the Government wants to distribute the largesse rather than having it administered by the body which was established on a statutory basis. The Minister of State, Deputy Kitt, should approach those involved. I am sure they will gladly accede to the requests for funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs for worthwhile projects such as this. The Department should identify the projects and locations and quantify the costs involved. No doubt the funding will be provided.

Let us not forget the emigrants. I will not repeat what I said in the past. In every community and parish in Ireland, whether in west Limerick, Connacht or wherever, the money that came back to Ireland in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s was vital support for families. It provided an economic stimulus for many people otherwise deprived in their own communities. Most of those who went abroad did not forget to send money home.

I fully support the motion. There are no votes in it for the Labour Party or for any of us, but we owe it to these people not to leave them deprived and abandoned, particularly in England. We must do something about the situation now.