Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 November 2004
48 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the recent contacts there have been with the American President and the State Department regarding undocumented Irish immigrants who are working illegally in the USA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30292/04]
View answer97 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to raise with either the US Ambassador or the US President the issue of the estimated 500,000 undocumented Irish immigrants in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30105/04]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 97 together.
The Government's concern regarding the situation of the undocumented Irish people in the United States is raised on an ongoing basis in our bilateral contacts with the US authorities, including when the Taoiseach and my predecessor met with President Bush at the EU-US Summit in Dromoland Castle in June 2004.
The number of Irish people who may be resident in the United States without the appropriate authorisation is difficult to estimate. While the US authorities have estimated that the number may have declined to 3,000 in the year 2000, I know that many of the organisations working on the ground with our emigrants would regard this figure as a very low estimate.
I welcome comments made in recent weeks by senior members of the US Administration that immigration reform will be a high priority during President Bush's second term in office. As the Deputy may be aware, various proposals on immigration reform have been made by President Bush and by members of the outgoing Congress. These initiatives reflect an awareness of the importance of addressing the situation of the undocumented in the US in a constructive and sympathetic way. Proposals for reform will have to be considered in detail by the incoming US Congress. Realistically, there is unlikely to be any movement until after the presidential inauguration in the New Year. I will be monitoring closely developments and will raise this issue in my contacts with figures in the US Administration and Legislature.
The Deputy can be assured that through the ongoing efforts of our embassy and my own contacts and those of my cabinet colleagues with political leaders in the US, we will continue to encourage and support all measures that benefit Irish citizens in the US.
