Jim Higgins (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon. I do not know whether he saw the recent "Prime Time" special investigation into the plight of Irish emigrants in Britain but it was a most graphic exposé of the squalor in which thousands of Irish people live in London, Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester. Seeing is believing. I believe "Prime Time" did a considerable public service by illustrating the squalor and deprivation endured by Irish emigrants.

We should examine the backgrounds of the people in question. Who are they? They are Irish emigrants who could not find employment here. They were forced to emigrate because they wanted the dignity of work. They worked hard and helped to build Great Britain. Many of those who sent millions of pounds to relatives and friends in this country are now totally deprived, ill and old. Some are disabled, having endured hardship by working in arduous conditions. The tenements in which many of them are living are not fit for human habitation. A large number of the people to whom I refer are homeless.

This country has a social, moral and political obligation to look after its people. Assistance for emigrants is administered under the DION fund. The name of the fund comes from the Irish word "díon", which means "roof". DION is underfunded — just €2.5 million is available, a derisory amount when one considers the needs and demands of those I have mentioned. The Government's priorities are apparent when one recalls that it made €15 million available to the Punchestown project.

A special task force was established some years ago to examine the plight of Irish emigrants and make recommendations. Some 18 recommendations were included in a report submitted to the Department of Foreign Affairs in November 2002 but few, if any, have been implemented. Given that it is mainly a question of funding and resources, the task force's key recommendation was that the minimum amount needed to administer help to Irish emigrants overseas was €18 million.

Fr. Paul Byrne is one of the people charged with looking after immigrant welfare in Britain. He said on "Prime Time" that he had telephoned an official in the Department of Foreign Affairs, with whom he had been in contact previously, on the day a report was published to find out how much additional funding had been allocated. He said he was absolutely devastated when the official said, "I am sorry, Father, not one red penny more." It is obvious, therefore, that the Government has neglected and abdicated its responsibility to emigrants.

The problems I have outlined will get worse because one of the main centres in which Irish emigrants in Britain who are not able to look after themselves are cared for, Cricklewood Homeless Concern, is for sale. A fund-raising effort is ongoing in an attempt to ensure theCricklewood facility is retained as a welfare centre but a substantial amount of money is needed to buy it. If the centre closes, the plight of those who live there will get considerably worse. Many of them will be sent onto the streets. My home county and province have been bled white over the years as a result of emigration. I saw many from County Mayo, some of whom I know, on "Prime Time". They are living in conditions of the most horrendous and abysmal squalor in London.

We have to get our priorities right. The people I have discussed have an irrefutable case for assistance from the Government which has a social and a moral obligation to do what it has not done before now — to enhance considerably the DION fund and give humane relief to those who find themselves in such a plight.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Cowen, was interviewed at the end of the "Prime Time" programme because DION is administered by his Department. I have to say it was one of the most insensitive interviews I have ever seen. The Minister did not seem to have any feeling for the plight and needs of Irish emigrants. He did not seem to sense that we had an obligation to do something about their problems. He certainly did not give any ray of hope in respect of the Government's intention to address this difficult and important issue.