Joe McHugh
Question:48. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his efforts to generate support in the American House of Representatives for the USA immigration reform Bill. [47708/13]
View answerTuesday, 12 November 2013
Questions (48)
Written answers
This is an issue to which I accord very high priority. During my visit to the US in September last, I spoke with several key contacts in the US Congress including Minority House Leader Nancy Pelosi and Chair of the Congressional Friends of Ireland, Pete King. I also spoke with leading Republican members of the House Judiciary Committee, Congressmen Mark Amodei, Spencer Bachus and Doug Collins.
In addition, I met with representatives of Irish community groups as well as some community members who are undocumented. I am acutely aware of the difficulties they face as a result of their undocumented status. I am more determined than ever to continue to work to find a solution to their plight.
A resolution of the situation facing the undocumented Irish in the United States remains a priority for the Government. The Government also attaches great importance to seeking provision for future flows of legal migration between Ireland and the United States through the extension of the “E-3” visa scheme to include Irish citizens. In this context, we very much welcomed the US Senate’s approval of the Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Bill by a 68-32 margin on 27 June last.
The comprehensive draft legislation, which was drafted over several months by a bi-partisan group of eight US Senators, provides for extensive reform of the US immigration system. It includes provisions that would legalise the status of undocumented Irish people and provide a path to permanent residency. It also provides for future flows of legal migration between Ireland and the US via the proposed E-3 visa.
The focus has since shifted to the House of Representatives for its consideration of the issues and a key factor here remains convincing the Republican House Majority of the importance of making progress.
It remains to be seen whether a consolidated Bill can be agreed between the Senate and the House of Representatives. It is generally accepted that securing overall agreement will remain a complex and challenging process, particularly at a time when Congress has been preoccupied by budgetary and debt issues. This was clear from my discussions in September and I believe the challenge to secure agreement has become even greater in recent times.
I am determined to continue to deploy all necessary resources at political, diplomatic and Irish community level to make progress on this vital issue. In support of this ongoing effort, a delegation of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade visited Washington DC last month for a programme arranged by our Embassy during which they met with key members of Congress and with Irish-American community representatives.
In addition to my contacts in New York in September, I visited Washington DC on 11-12 July and held a series of meetings on Capitol Hill, including with key members of the House of Representatives and Senate. These included Republican Congressman Paul Ryan, Chair of House Budgetary Committee and former Vice-Presidential nominee, and Republican Congressman Bob Goodlatte, Chair of the House Judiciary Committee.
I also had meetings with the offices of House Speaker John Boehner and of House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy. In addition, I met key figures in the US Administration and with Irish-American community representatives.
I reiterated throughout all these contacts the Government’s interest in all aspects of immigration reform and in particular our interest in seeing an overall agreement reached which provides relief for currently undocumented Irish migrants and a facility for future flows of legal migration between Ireland and the US.
The Embassy in Washington continues our intensive follow-up work with all of our contacts on Capitol Hill and particularly with the Republican House leadership. It also continues to coordinate our lobbying efforts with our Irish-American community representatives.
I wish to acknowledge the critically important role being played by these community organisations, including the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Chicago Celts for Immigration Reform and the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform.