The Labour Party is organising a postcard campaign supporting the extension of the free travel scheme to Irish pensioners living abroad when they travel home.
The party is urging the Government to recognise the contribution hundreds of thousands of emigrants have made to the economy by providing them with free travel in Ireland.
The campaign, announced today by party leader Pat Rabbitte, will distribute 30,000 postcards, which people are asked to sign and return to show their support for the campaign.
The completed postcards will be delivered to Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Labour hopes to have most of the cards returned over the St Patrick's Day period.
Mr Rabbitte criticised the Government's failure to fully implement the recommendations of its Task Force on Policy Regarding Emigrants.
Established in 2001, the task force recommended the introduction of measures to help elderly emigrants take holidays in Ireland, to help preserve links with family and friends in the country. Some recommendations, such as an Agency for the Irish Abroad, were rejected by the Government; others have been partially implemented.
Labour Chief Whip Emmet Stagg pointed out that the funding for projects has fallen below what the task force recommended, with only one-quarter provided.
"Whilst the recent move by the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Seamus Brennan, to consider free travel for pensioners living abroad is welcome it is insufficient in itself in recognising the role and status of Irish emigrants," Mr Stagg said.
"The type of conditions in which many Irish people survive in England are in one sense tragic, and in another an outrage."
Mr Stagg also called for a number of other measures to be introduced, such as access to Irish television channels and the right to vote in Irish parliamentary elections.
