asked the Taoiseach the matters he proposes to discuss with the United States government during his visit there next month.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - US Visit.
2.
During my brief visit, I intend to discuss with the new US administration and with members of Congress, as appropriate, bilateral economic and political questions, including US investment here, tourism, the status of Irish immigrants in the US — as well as Northern Ireland and any other relevant issues which may arise.
May I ask the Taoiseach if the report in the newspapers during the past fortnight that the Taoiseach is likely to discuss the Government's proposals for ending the political stalemate in Northern Ireland is correct?
That report was entirely without foundation.
Is it without foundation because the Government do not have proposals or because the Taoiseach does not intend discussing them? It is not apparent to any other Member of this House that the Government have proposals in relation to Northern Ireland. May I ask the Taoiseach if he has seen reports that the Libyan government intend, under the new administration in the US, to try to repair relationships between those two countries and, if that is so, can I ask him, through these new found relationships, to impress on the US administration the abhorrence we feel at the Libyan support for the Provisional IRA and to ask the US administration to end——
We are having a widening of this question now.
I was saying what the Taoiseach should discuss and I think it follows on from his original reply.
I think the Deputy knows that it is not the practice nor is it desirable to go into forthcoming discussions of this nature in any sort of detail or depth.
Can I ask the Taoiseach to bear in mind what I have said about the abhorrence we in this country feel at the importation of arms and the support the Libyan government give to the Provisional IRA?
We are having repetition.
I will bear in mind anything the Deputy says.
Finally, may I ask the Taoiseach if, in view of emigration statistics, he will inform the United States government that while we are grateful for the increase in the number of visas we hope that they will find some way of doing something about those who are in the United States illegally — people who are classified as illegal or out of status?
Yes, but I think the Deputy knows that whereas we are concerned to improve matters in the future the real difficulty arises in connection with the young people who are already there illegally.
The Government promised them action on two occasions but they have done nothing. In 1987 and 1988——
The Deputy knows that we have done an enormous amount to help and the situation is much better than it was.
We are moving on to questions nominated for priority. Question No. 3.
The situation is very much worse now. There will probably be twice as many emigrants this year as there were last year.
Our young people are abandoned on the streets of New York.
From all we hear the Deputy might be abandoned if we go to the country soon.
I have called Question No. 3.