asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the light of the Taoiseach's discussions in the United States on the immigration issue if he will initiate a national letter-writing lobbying campaign to mobilise Irish-American voters to contact their Congressmen to support the new Immigration Bill in the House of Representatives.
Written Answers. - US Lobbying Campaign.
18.
Deputies will be aware that in March the US Senate passed a Bill proposed by Senators Ted Kennedy and Alan Simpson to reform US immigration law. The Bill would introduce a new independent category for immigrant visas, 55,000 of which would be allocated annually on a points basis. A similar measure has been introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Brian Donnelly and Charles Schumer. I am hopeful that if this approach is adopted our citizens will be in a position to obtain a significant proportion of the new visas in future years.
In so far as the Deputy's suggestion is concerned I would not think it appropriate for the Government here to initiate or sponsor a letter writing campaign of the kind proposed, However, if Irish people or Irish-Americans wish to indicate their support for the proposal in this way I would welcome it. I myself have given strong support to the need for legislative reform in public, and in private discussions with US legislators. Our diplomatic missions in the US are following closely the progress of the measures and are taking all appropriate action in support of the reforms and I know from my recent contacts with them that Irish-American organisations and other groups working with our emigrants are lobbying actively for the Bills and I appreciate their efforts. I can assure the Deputy and the House that the Government is committed to improving the situation of our young people in the United States and will take all appropriate action to achieve this end.