Vol. 377 No. 9
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the plight of a person (details supplied) in County Cork who was arrested and interrogated in New York by immigration officials; and whether he will have representations made at the highest diplomatic and political levels with a view to finding a solution to her problem and to that of the many thousands of young Irish boys and girls who are threatened with similar treatment.
36.
asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, consequent upon the Taoiseach's visit in March, 1987 to the United States, any direct intervention with the US administration has been made in order to alleviate the hardship now being imposed on the many Irish who do not at present have legal status in that country.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 36 together.
As regards the party mentioned by Deputy O'Keeffe I am aware of the case. The person concerned, who was working in the US, was detained in January 1988 by the US immigration authorities. She has been in touch with our Consulate General at New York where she was advised on the possible courses of action open to her. I understand that she has now engaged a US attorney who will advise her on how best to seek a legal solution to her problem. The Consulate General will monitor her case closely and will be available for consultation at all times should she require further advice. With reference to the more general aspects, as Deputies are no doubt aware, both the Taoiseach and I visited the US last March and discussed the problem of Irish citizens whose immigration status is uncertain with prominent Irish-American politicians, leaders of Irish American organisations and representatives of the US Administration. I am happy to say that, as a result of this initiative, a draft Bill was published last year by Senator Kennedy and Congressman Donnelly which, if enacted into law, would provide a substantial increase in the number of immigrant visas available for Irish citizens. This Bill has recently been co-sponsored by Senator Simpson and the redrafted Kennedy-Simpson Bill will be put before the Judiciary Committee of the US Senate in the very near future and may be passed by the Senate itself next month. This is a most significant move and the Government have warmly welcomed it.
During my two subsequent visits since March, and the visit of Minister of State, Deputy Fahey, early last month, contact was continued with leading members of the US Congress. The measures before Congress were also discussed with Congressman Donnelly by both the Taoiseach and myself when he visited Ireland in January.
As regards the more immediate problems facing the out of status Irish in the US, we have set up immigrant working committees, based on the consulates general at New York and Boston, to exchange information about these problems and to explore ways of finding solutions to them. These committees are made up of leaders of the main Irish American groups who are actively engaged in this area, representatives of church social agencies and the consulate staff. The committees have already done major work in gathering and disseminating information about the main problems facing our citizens in the US. In addition the staff of the consulate general at New York has been increased and the advisory services provided by our consulates have been extended.
I am hopeful that the steps we have taken to promote legislative change and to develop our advisory services will improve significantly the situation facing our emigrants in the United States.
