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Former head of Task Force on Emigrants dies

By Noreen Bowden | April 8, 2009

Paddy O’Hanlon, who headed the task force on policies regarding emigrants, has died at 65 following a short illness.

Paddy O’Hanlon became one of the founding members of the SDLP after being elected to Stormont in 1969; he left politics in the 1980s to become a barrister. O’Hanlon was appointed in 2001 to head the emigrant task force by then-MInister for Foreign Affairs Brian Cowen.

The task force was highly influential in prompting a new relationship between Ireland and the Irish abroad. Subsequent actions by the government included the establishment of the Irish Abroad Unit and increased spending on emigrant welfare.

For more information:

• RTE.ie: SDLP founder O’Hanlon dies at 65
• Irish TImes: SDLP founder O’Hanlon dies
• Ireland and the Irish Abroad: Report of the Task Force on Policy regarding Emigrants (2002)

Topics: Diaspora policy, Irish Abroad Unit, Latest News | Comments Off on Former head of Task Force on Emigrants dies

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