Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 May 2012
44 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress, if any, made to date in addressing the difficulties facing undocumented Irish citizens in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23439/12]
View answerAs I outlined in my reply to Question Nos. 16, 31 and 55 of 29 March, addressing the position of the undocumented Irish and reform of migration arrangements remain high priorities for the Government in its contacts with the US Administration and Congress. The Taoiseach and I have worked closely and continuously on this matter. We discussed immigration issues with President Obama during his visit to Dublin last year and I have also raised it separately with Secretary of State Clinton.
My assessment continues to be that the Government's keen interest in a resolution of the situation for undocumented Irish migrants is well recognised and accepted by our friends within the US Administration and Congress but that comprehensive reform of the US immigration system and procedures is the only likely manner by which this can be achieved.
With a view to helping some positive momentum around immigration issues insofar as they relate to Ireland, the Government and our partners in Irish-America are continuing to pursue the potential availability of E-3 temporary US work visas to Irish applicants. I reviewed progress on E-3 issues during meetings which I held with Senators Leahy, Brown, and Schumer and the Friends of Ireland group in the House of Representatives and with Deputy Secretary Bill Burns during my February visit to Washington, and with a Congressional Delegation led by leader Nancy Pelosi in Dublin on 12 March. The Taoiseach raised immigration with President Obama and with Senators Leahy, Brown and Schumer and the Friends of Ireland Group during his subsequent visit to Washington for St. Patrick's Day-related events.
While developments in relation to E-3 visas are positive in relation to future flows of emigration to the United States, I am very much aware of the difficulties confronting undocumented Irish citizens and the distress which both they and their families in the US and Ireland experience arising from their situation. I would urge anybody who might be tempted to follow in the footsteps of the undocumented to take account of their plight and to refrain from seeking entry to the US for work purposes without having first acquired relevant visa clearance.
As with a solution to the problems of undocumented Irish migrants, I am conscious that passage of any E3-related legislation in a US election year would present very significant challenges. Through our Embassy in Washington, the Government is therefore working closely and on an ongoing basis with our friends in Congress and with Irish-American community representatives with a view to ensuring that every opportunity is taken to put an E-3 visa scheme in place but it has to be understood that the political climate for any immigration related initiatives remains very difficult.
