Irish In Britain 1999

Society

The long term impact on those who emigrated to Brtian from Ireland makes for grim reading.

The Episcopal Commission report on Irish emigration to Britain makes a bleak read that finds the situation for Irish people is deteriorating.

The report was presented to President Mary McAleese by Archbishop Michael Neary. The findings of the research show that the Irish in Britain suffer from poor health and die early.

They also experience high unemployment and a distinct level of discrimination. And they suffer from high rates of alcoholism and suicide.

Older people who emigrated are now the single most deprived ethnic community in London. The report's authors believe that these shocking revelations demand a response about the services that pensioners are receiving. Father Paul Byrne, says that many of the older emigrants worked in low-paid jobs living in poor conditions and were unable to make any provision for their future.

The report also finds that Irish people constitute the highest ethnic minority in British prisons. Nuala Kelly, Commission for Prisoners Overseas, says that many of these prisoners are living in appalling conditions describing,

Conditions of detention that you wouldn't put animals into.

The report by Catholic bishops says that government funding for emigrant agencies is insufficient. It is calling for more advice to be provided to young people before emigration occurs.