As the largest ethnic group in Britain, nearly four million Irish - as well British-born Irish - voters will play a key role in deciding the political future of many MPs in the general election. In London alone, the Irish represent the largest ethnic group in 30 seats.
As part of Labour's drive to court the Irish vote, the Labour Party Irish Society has drawn up an information pack detailing Irish voters in each constituency, a list of the Irish community's main concerns and contact numbers for local Irish organisations and pressure groups.
One of the leading members of LPIS is John McDonnell, who has represented Hayes and Harlington in West London since 1997. He believes Labour can build on "residual loyalty" within the Irish community in Britain by reminding voters of the party's record on bringing their concerns to the heart of government.
The Irish are the only migrant community whose health deteriorates after they arrive in Britain and among the older Irish in particular, there are problems concerning access to housing and welfare services. Mr McDonnell points to the inclusion of the Irish as an ethnic group for the first time in this year's census and meetings between LPIS and government ministers to raise concerns over housing and health as key factors in ensuring Irish issues are addressed by government agencies.
"For the first time we have exposed, with the Irish organisations in Britain, what has been the experience of the Irish in Britain over the last century - the lack of social provision and health problems and we are suggesting how to resolve them," says Mr McDonnell.
There is an "open door" policy between the Irish community and a British government, says Mr McDonnell: "We are saying that the Irish are an influential vote. The needs of the Irish community have been recognised as an issue and that has been accepted by the Prime Minister himself. Irish people now have a voice within parliament and no government is going to ignore that in the future."
Concern about apathy among voters does not extend to the Irish, according to Mr McDonnell: "The Irish are traditionally more politically active than the host community - it is a motivated vote. I don't think there is apathy within the Irish community because they feel more confident about voting. There is a sense of Irish pride, they are more confident to be seen as Irish in the current political climate and this translates into wider political activity."
Seamus McGarry, chairman of the Federation of Irish Societies in Britain, a non-politically aligned umbrella group representing hundreds of Irish organisations, agrees that the Irish are a politically motivated group. But he says political activity within the Irish community is moving away from old associations with Northern Ireland and other mainstream political issues are receiving greater attention. "There are interest groups within the Irish community that are concerned in the same way as the rest of the electorate with the health service, transport, education and taxation," he says.
Mr McGarry suggests Labour will benefit from the signing of the Belfast Agreement. But there is a negative side. He says the Irish community is concerned about the "failure" to implement the Patten report.