The Irish bishops have expressed appreciation and satisfaction about the decision by the Irish government to increase funds for emigrants abroad. Father Alan Hilliard, director of the episcopal Commission for Emigrants, says he is “particularly happy” about the measure, as also about the establishment “of a unit to coordinate aid to the Irish abroad, which will begin its work in September”. “The government is pledged in future to provide proper funding and staffing of this unit for our emigrants”, says Father Hilliard, recalling that “the history of the emigration of the Irish abroad was at times sad”. “While the Catholic Church and many organizations of volunteer service have worked tirelessly in recent years to improve the living conditions and image of our emigrants he comments -, the tangible support of the government for this social problem of our country was always requested but fell on deaf ears. Today the government has begun this support”. “All those who work with the Irish abroad concludes Father Hilliard , especially in the USA, the UK and Australia, will welcome this provision. Now we can enter a new phase full of hope and new opportunities for our emigrants”.
