Emigrants could have been helped with Punchestown money, says priest

Emigration debate: A State agency to help struggling Irish emigrants could have been created for the cost of the Punchestown equestrian centre, an Irish priest who cared for emigrants has declared.

The sharply worded criticism was levelled by Father Paul Byrne, the ex-head of the Irish Episcopal Commission for Emigration, in a speech to the Labour Party conference.

Efforts to help emigrants living illegally in the US, who "live in fear of the hand on the shoulder", could be hurt by the proposed citizenship referendum, he said.

"Unfortunately in trying to deal with this problem we may be faced with the sins of our own conduct, if we deport people by the plane load," he said.

Given a standing ovation by Labour delegates, Father Byrne called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, to act urgently to help impoverished emigrants.

Though emigration should not become " political football", the Oblate priest said: "I hope to God that he has the heart and the ability to do something about emigration.

"If he hasn't, I hope that you make him," he added, after he received the Labour Party's James Larkin Thirst for Justice Award.

Accepting it, he said: "I am proud because it says something about my much maligned Church, because one thing we did do was look after emigrants when nobody else did."

Father Byrne was a member of the Government-appointed Taskforce on Emigration, which recommended the creation of the Agency for the Irish Abroad.

It was "ironic" that the proposed agency's first-year €15 million budget was "about equal" to the Punchestown equestrian centre which was given State grants within days by the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy and the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh.

Despite the taskforce's recommendations, the Cabinet refused to approve the money requested for the emigration agency in last year's Budget.

"It is no good saying, 'We have no money'. Every government has money, for God's sake," said Father Byrne, who described emigrants as "the unconsidered people".

During all the debates that have taken place about poverty, he said he was "puzzled, bewildered and appalled" that the plight of emigrants was never included.

He said that between 1939 and 1969, emigrants working on building sites in the UK and elsewhere sent €5 billion worth of remittances to their families in Ireland.

Many are now in need: "It isn't about receiving favours or charity. It is about a debt.

"The reason that we have the lowest pension bill in Europe is because of emigration.

"This issue is about a debt. We owe these people. It is time that this national debt was honoured," said the priest, who is now living in retirement in Ireland.