asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of visas issued by the American Embassy to Irish citizens to holiday in the USA in 1985.
Ceisteana—Questions. Oral Answers - US Visas.
6.
The question of visas for the US is a matter for the US authorities. I understand, however, that the US Embassy in Dublin issued about 43,000 holiday visas in 1985. This figure includes short-term business trips as well as holiday trips, since no distinction is made between the two types of visa.
How many of the visitors actually returned here?
I would not have a notion. Obviously when their holiday or business visas expire they should in theory return, but I am not naive enough to think that they all do.
Has the Minister made any representations to the United States Government in relation to an amnesty for the many thousands of Irish people who have emigrated to the US as a result of the lack of ability of this Government to create jobs at home? Will he try to create an atmosphere in America in favour of an amnesty for so many young Irish people who are there without work permits?
The number of people in the United States illegally can only be guessed; but the Deputy should not pursue too far the year in which they emigrated, otherwise he might be in for a shock. It is not possible for the United States to grant an amnesty for Irish people there; it would have to be a global amnesty. It is a matter which forms part of a Bill before Congress at the moment. Other Bills containing clauses about an amnesty have fallen and did not become law. I do not know whether the current Bill will become law, but I understand it contains a clause concerning an amnesty. It could not be an amnesty for Irish people since it would have to be a global amnesty. Immigration laws must apply globally. A total of 120,000 emigrants are allowed under existing legislation but they are not classified according to nationality, except in so far as there is a ceiling on the number from any one country. Otherwise people are classified according to their abilities, their marital status and so on, rather than by nationality.
Surely the Minister should have some estimation of the number of Irish people, especially young people, who are in the US without work permits. This type of emigration did not take place under a Fianna Fáil administration. It has been taking place since 1982 as a result of the inability of this Government to create jobs at home. The Minister is taking no steps whatever even though we have great influence in the USA——
The Deputy cannot make a speech.
The situation is that emigrants to America have no say whatever in this House——
The Deputy will have to find another occasion if he wants to make a speech.
Would the Minister please make approaches to the United States Government to make provision for the many young Irish people who are in America at present? Indeed there can be a special concession given to Irish people in particular because we have great clout in the United States Congress and the Minister knows that.
I know, as I said to a previous question from Deputy De Rossa, that certainly Irish people made a contribution to the building up of the United States but so did many other countries. Indeed it is one of the strengths of the United States that so many countries contributed. As the Deputy should be, but possibly is not, aware, the major problem occasioned by illegal immigration to the United States is not that from Europe——
From Mexico.
Exactly. One must take all of these factors into account. It must be remembered that one is dealing with a Congress, a Parliament, that must look at a global position, and not just from the point of view of any one country. I would not like to say I am absolutely sure I am right here but I do not believe there is any immigration law in the United States that lays down a quota or a special position for immigrants from a particular country.
Is the Minister or his Department in a position to make young people travelling to the United States on temporary visas or holiday visas aware of the risks of over-staying their visa period and the illegal position in which they would then find themselves? In other words, would he agree they should be aware exactly of the problems they would face in remaining there without the proper documentation?
I would hope that all young people would take note of what I said in this House and which I am glad to repeat now: the Irish Government cannot condone anybody breaking the laws of another country. If people work in the United States — when there on a holiday visa — then they are breaking those laws. They should be extremely careful. We owe it both to America and our young people to warn them that they should not be there under such circumstances. Of course I recognise that there are a number of them there. I would be glad to see something done to regularise their position. Of course consulates and the consular generals throughout the United States will help them if possible if and when they get into trouble.
I am not going to allow any further supplementaries on this. It is a simple question about the number of people who received visas.
I am asking the Minister to do a simple thing, to make available to people who apply for visas for the United States, or people indicating in whatever way that they intend going to the United States, a booklet of some kind indicating what would be their position if they over-stay their visa permit. The reality is that a large number of young people——
I would like to do that if at all possible. Certainly I will look into Deputy De Rossa's suggestion.
A Cheann Comhairle——
Let me again warn Deputy Leyden not to pursue this matter of figures too much because it will not be to his or his party's benefit.
Will the Minister please read the reply to Question No. 7?
Might I ask the Minister in regard to the United States immigration desk at Shannon — which I understand is at an advanced stage — would he ensure that there will be no erosion of our sovereignty by virtue of the presence of that desk at Shannon?
That is a separate question altogether.