I welcome this opportunity to address Seanad Éireann on this important motion, having already addressed the Dáil on the matter last week.
The vulnerable situation of the undocumented Irish in the United States is well known to all Members of the Oireachtas. As public representatives, the very stressful burden placed on such individuals, and the restrictions within which they must operate, have unfortunately become very familiar. The prevailing security climate in the US adds considerably to their difficulties. Tighter border security measures, being unable to travel home for fear of being refused re-entry and difficulties in obtaining driving licences all serve to increase the pressure on these people and marginalise them further. It is no surprise, therefore, that, together with their families here at home, they are increasingly feeling the strain. This debate provides us with an important opportunity to support the undocumented Irish and to highlight our shared concern, on an all-party basis, for their welfare. It also allows us to warmly welcome the high priority which the sensitive issue of immigration reform has now been afforded in the US.
The legislative debate on this issue is entering a critical phase, with various proposals under consideration. These include the initiative of Senators McCain and Kennedy in the Senate, mirrored by Representatives Kolbe, Flake and Gutierrez in the House of Representatives. This initiative is the subject of the motion. If the McCain-Kennedy Bill is adopted, it will enable undocumented Irish people to participate in the life of their adopted country, free from fear and uncertainty. It is a proposal of great importance to the Government and I will discuss its provisions in further detail later. In view of our collective concerns and the topical nature of immigration reform in the US, it is both important and timely that we add our voices to the many others that strongly support a pragmatic and sympathetic approach to this sensitive issue. The support of the Seanad for today's motion will serve to strengthen and emphasise our message.
In keeping with the very high priority which the Government attaches to the issue of the undocumented Irish abroad, I visited the United States on a number of occasions since becoming Minister for Foreign Affairs just over one year ago. I availed of every opportunity to discuss this issue and to promote the interests of the undocumented. The Seanad can rest assured that I will continue to be active in this regard and I plan to visit three locations in the US next month to meet again with representatives of the immigration centre.
In addition to these ongoing political contacts, our ambassador and a team of diplomats throughout the US attach the highest priority to this issue and will continue to proactively ensure that our interests, and those of our citizens, are promoted. The embassy has also been happy to set up programmes for visiting Irish parliamentarians who have generously given of their time and resources to this important issue. I welcome this opportunity to place on record my deep appreciation of the valuable work done by colleagues in this House. In June, the Leader of the Seanad and other Senators visited New York and Washington DC with the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, with the specific objective of examining, at first hand, the issue of the undocumented. More recently, Senators Ryan and Mooney joined an Oireachtas delegation led by the Ceann Comhairle. The idea for this motion follows from the useful meetings they had with people, including Senator John McCain, on Capitol Hill.
Emigration has always had a central place in the Irish experience and, as a consequence, we feel a deep empathy with the many challenges, the highs and lows, of settling far from home. We understand very well the sadness of separation and the difficulties of adjustment, both for those who have left and those who have stayed behind. Emigration is not simply a sad chronicle of sorrow and regret. It has also been a powerful story of contribution and adaptation. Nowhere is this more evident than in the case of the Irish in the United States.
We are enormously proud of the very significant contribution made over many centuries by the Irish, and our descendants, to the development of the United States of America. While we highlight the rich traditions that join our two countries, we also take pride in the dynamic, progressive relationship our two countries enjoy. We welcome new developments and look forward to our relationship developing further in the future.
We are keenly aware that Irish people continue to contribute in a significant way to that country. Many of the young Irish who settled permanently in the US in recent decades now hold significant positions in American universities and business life. Many others, motivated by opportunity rather than necessity, have travelled to the US more recently and are, for example, availing of study and business visas to enhance their experiences.
Thankfully, one of the greatest dividends of our economic success has been the reversal of the tide of emigration. This had been a goal of successive Governments. We can take some pride in the fact that the latest CSO figures estimate that in 2005 as many as 19,000 Irish nationals will return to Ireland, while the numbers emigrating will drop to 16,600.
While taking pride in our economic prosperity, we are not so far removed from the economic hardship of recent years that we have forgotten the pain of seeing our best and brightest leave, often with no decent prospect of returning home. We are not so far removed from our past that we are willing to turn a blind eye to the loved ones and emigrants who now find themselves in unfortunate and difficult circumstances. We recognise that with our new prosperity comes new responsibilities and opportunities. We understand that meeting the needs of our community living abroad is one such important responsibility and we are fully committed to meeting it.
This commitment is reflected in the establishment a few years ago of a dedicated unit within my Department focused entirely on matters relating to the Irish abroad. This has helped to drive progress on the range of issues addressed in the most valuable task force report on emigrants. A further reflection of the extent of the Government's commitment is clear from the substantially increased funding to groups supporting our vulnerable community abroad. Funding is now more than eight times greater than it was in 1997. I assure the House that this commitment and engagement will deepen and grow in the years ahead.
While the numbers leaving Ireland for the US are nothing as high as they were, we are nevertheless acutely conscious of the individual stories of hardship and of the impact of the changed circumstances in which they find themselves. The fact that there is no firm figure for the current number of undocumented is a reflection of their life below the radar. We have heard various estimates; a figure of 3,000 has been estimated by the US authorities but this certainly seems to be a low estimate. Some in the Irish community in the US consider that the numbers may be as high as 50,000. I remain of the opinion that the true figure is probably in the region of 25,000. We are conscious nonetheless that the Irish undocumented form a small part of a much larger group of undocumented in the US, where the total number is thought to exceed 10 million. However, the issue is not one of numbers. It is the nature of the undocumented experience, rather than the numbers, that should be our focus.
Many of those who now find themselves in difficulty left Ireland to make new lives in the US, often in challenging circumstances. For some, the United States to which they had travelled changed beyond all recognition on 11 September 2001 and almost overnight, they found themselves isolated by international events outside of their control. In the aftermath of the tragic events of 11 September, the United States Government moved quickly and decisively to confront the threat of terrorism at home. This was right and fully understandable. As anyone who has been in the US in recent times will testify, tough new security measures have been adopted and continue to affect the daily lives of Americans.
The undocumented Irish, like so many others, became caught up in these new measures and suddenly found themselves in a situation for which they had neither planned nor prepared — a situation where they have understandably increasingly retreated to the shadows, fearful of detection. These are decent, hardworking people who, like generations of Irish before them, continue to contribute very positively to their communities. We know they could realise their potential even further if they were to regularise their status. We are determined they will continue to have our full support and access to all the advice and assistance they need in order to achieve this.
We are deeply appreciative of the critical support provided by the Irish immigration centres in the United States. The sensitive and effective assistance they offer is of particular relevance in the current climate of heightened stress and uncertainty. During my visit to New York last month, I convened a meeting with representatives of these centres from across the United States to hear at first hand their concerns. This was the first time such a collective meeting took place and I believe we all found it to be a stimulating exchange of views. The representatives of the centres gave me a very detailed briefing on the day-to-day difficulties faced by the undocumented and the types of services they have been developing to meet the needs of this vulnerable group. They also updated me on their work with other Irish people in need of a helping hand such as, for example, older Irish members of our community.
In order to support them further in their invaluable work, I announced grants amounting to some €750,000, which is an increase of 40% on last year. The representatives of the centres also emphasised to me the increased spotlight on immigration policy in the United States and the difficult climate for reform. In the context of today's debate, I was heartened when the Irish centres expressed deep appreciation of the interest of the Government and Members of the Oireachtas in this matter.
We all appreciate that immigration is a sensitive and divisive issue in the United States, particularly since the tragic events of 11 September 2001. We fully recognise the complexity of the issues involved, and the need to secure consensus on a comprehensive set of reforms which addresses both the situation of the undocumented and the need for increased security of borders.
Hence, as this motion notes, we particularly welcome the high priority being given to this issue by the United States President and Congress. In my contacts with political leaders in the United States, I have been struck by their determination to advance reforms. In particular, I am deeply appreciative of the high priority which President Bush attaches to it. When the Taoiseach and I met the President on 17 March this year, he assured us of his commitment to working with Congress and to advancing progress on this issue.
This motion expresses the Seanad's strong support for measures introduced by US Senators Kennedy and McCain and their colleagues in the House of Representatives. Their Secure America and Orderly Immigration Bill represents a serious and considered effort by two distinguished Senators, with long records of public service, to reform the immigration system and to regularise the position of undocumented people. Their very significant and positive Bill provides for a route to legality for undocumented people. Such people would be able to regularise their status by applying for a temporary residency visa. They would receive work and travel authorisation, which would provide them with greater protection in the work place and allow them to travel to and from Ireland without fear of being refused re-entry to the US. This would be a great relief to them and to their families.
A further and most significant aspect of the Kennedy-McCain Bill which distinguishes it from other proposals is that it includes a path to permanent residency. As I stated earlier, there have been a number of other immigration Bills introduced in both Houses of Congress, all with their own emphasis and policy direction. We welcome the positive engagement of all those who are contributing to the debate on this important issue. We understand that divergence in points of view is to be expected. The focus of today's motion on the Kennedy-McCain initiative arises because from an Irish point of view, it represents by far the best approach.
We know the legislative debate on immigration in the United States will be lively and lengthy. We also understand that the outcome of the debate is uncertain. Members who have visited the United States in recent times will have come away with this impression of the situation. In light of the current focus on immigration reform in the United States and of the deep concern here about the issue, I am convinced it is very important that we give the clearest expression of our strong support of the approach adopted by Senators Kennedy and McCain and their colleagues in the House of Representatives.
The Members of the Seanad can be assured that the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States has and will continue to have the highest priority for the Government. In the critical period ahead, we will intensify our efforts to support measures, in particular those proposed in the Kennedy-McCain Bill, which would allow our undocumented citizens to regularise their situation and enjoy greater peace of mind. I thank the Members and Senator Mooney for proposing the motion and I look forward to the debate.