I propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 166, 169, 234, 242, 243 and 246 together.
The Government attaches the highest priority to the welfare of the undocumented Irish in the United States, and takes every opportunity in contacts with US political leaders to emphasise the importance of addressing this matter in a pragmatic and sympathetic manner. The St. Patrick's Day period provided the Taoiseach and myself with a particularly valuable and timely opportunity to convey our views to key figures in the Administration and on Capitol Hill, including President Bush.
President Bush appreciates our concerns. He spoke of his support for a broad approach that involves reform, as well as enforcement. He assured us of his wish to work with Congress to find a bipartisan solution to this important issue in the critical period ahead.
During our visit we particularly welcomed the opportunity to meet again with Senator Kennedy and to thank him for his continued strong leadership on this issue. He told us that he is encouraging members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to revisit the positive bipartisan bill passed by that Committee last year during the life of the previous Congress. As Deputies may recall, this was a bill that included the key elements of the Kennedy/McCain approach. Senator Kennedy considers that this approach is the most likely to secure the bipartisan support needed.
The Taoiseach and I also emphasised our strong support for the Kennedy/McCain approach in our meetings with key Congressional figures, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee Patrick Leahy, Senator Clinton and the House of Representatives Friends of Ireland Group. We were particularly encouraged by Speaker Pelosi's firm declaration at the American Ireland Fund Dinner on 14 March that she will work hard to ensure that a comprehensive immigration reform bill is passed in 2007. This very positive statement was repeated to us in our private meeting with her and was warmly welcomed as a significant development by the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform.
There is high awareness on Capitol Hill now of the Irish dimension to the undocumented issue. Our Ambassador in Washington is extremely active in highlighting our concerns. Importantly, our sustained political contacts have been strengthened by the mobilisation of the Irish community behind the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, a highly effective organisation which we are happy to support, including financially. The Taoiseach and Minister for Agriculture had a very useful meeting with the ILIR in New York on 14 March.
As the prospects for enacting comprehensive reform become clearer, we will actively review the situation to see what, if any, revision to our strategy and approach may be required. I look forward to a further intensification of the Government's efforts on behalf of the undocumented. Deputies can be assured that the Government will proactively pursue a favourable outcome.
