MINISTER FOR Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern praised Irish people's generosity to charities abroad as he unveiled a new home for people with disabilities set up by an Irish priest in Argentina.
Unveiling the foundation stone of a new centre for people with intellectual disabilities established by Limerick priest Fr Liam Hayes in Obera, northeast Argentina, Mr Ahern said charities abroad would be at a loss if it were not for the generosity of Irish people.
"Irish people are one of the most generous in the world, whether it is for tsunami relief or Live Aid or for some smaller charities like this," he said.
"Dozens of people all over the world are foraging away on their own, doing great work that can go unnoticed. The Government allocates €20 million per year for missionaries. It gives them a head start and it means that they can try to fundraise the rest themselves."
Fr Hayes set out as a missionary priest to Argentina in 1986 and on a trip to Obera, about 20 hours drive north of Buenos Aires, he saw homeless people wandering around. After speaking to locals, he realised it was common in poor rural areas for families to abandon family members with physical or intellectual disabilities.
Three years later, he returned to Obera and set up a residential home for abandoned people with mental and physical disabilities.
Fr Hayes said: "I couldn't sleep at night knowing they were here with no one to care for them."
He does not receive funds from the Argentinian government and relies solely on the charity of Irish people and grants from the Irish Government to run his three residential care centres.
"It's very important that we remember charities abroad and give to them as much support as possible," Mr Ahern said.
The Minister was attending the event as part of his St Patrick's Day trip to Argentina, which included the opening of a new GAA club in Buenos Aires and a working meeting with the Argentinian minister of defence.