Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 November 2014
6. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his recent visit to the US; the progress on the issue of the undocumented Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44970/14]
View answerHaving listened to the Minister earlier, I wish to echo his comments regarding the announcement by President Obama last week. It is a very positive step forward and I warmly welcome it, particularly for grandparents here in Ireland. The Minister is right to acknowledge it is down to the efforts over a long period of people like Billy Lawless, Cyril Regan, Breandán McGee and many others in the United States, but also our own Ambassador, Anne Anderson, who has done an outstanding job, and the Minister's predecessor in the job, Deputy Eamon Gilmore. What efforts are being made to explain to people exactly what this announcement means, what it is and what it is not?
I want to acknowledge the comments of the Deputy, with which I agree fully. During my visit to the US in September, I had a wide range of meetings on this important issue across a range of Irish community groups in Washington, New York and Boston, and with high level government contacts, including Vice President Joe Biden, White House Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough, and Secretary of State John Kerry. I wish to acknowledge the role of the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Gaelic Athletic Association, in particular the New York branch, and the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. I want to acknowledge the Consul General in Chicago, Aidan Cronin, along with those who were mentioned by Deputy Naughten. I also acknowledge the representatives from this House, representing all parties and none, and, indeed, Deputy Naughten himself played no small role in ensuring this issue was high on the agenda.
Last Thursday, President Obama announced new measures which will benefit thousands of undocumented Irish immigrants based in the US. Pending further possible measures being considered by Congress, these measures are a step forward. We are now in the process of providing information through the centres. The views of the wider Irish community are being canvassed so the information is filtering through, not only through the media but through social media in particular. The websites of our centres have detailed information in so far as it is available.
Thank you, Minister.
Perhaps the House will permit me to refer specifically to the question of travel. Details as to how the travel provision will work in practice have yet to be confirmed but, through our embassy in Washington, we are following up on this point directly with the White House and the US Department of Homeland Security.
I thank the Minister for his last comment. It is of critical importance that we try to get clarity as quickly as possible on the travel issue. My interpretation of what has been announced is that the freedom of travel will be very limited and will be on humanitarian grounds such as illness and funerals. Anything we can get to expand that definition would be extremely welcome.
There is a need to ensure that as many undocumented Irish as possible can avail of this scheme. To do that we need to successfully resource the coalition of Irish immigration centres across the USA so that they have the capacity to deal with the applicants that come before them. Can the Minister assure the House that resources will be made available from his Department to ensure that happens? We also need to ensure that vehicles to provide information such as the website www.undocumentedirish.com have the necessary resources available to ensure that clear, concise and unambiguous information is available on both sides of the Atlantic.
I want to confirm to the House that there are a number of Irish immigrant centres across the USA which receive funding from the Government and are providing the information and advice on the changes as we speak. Information on who to contact is available on my Department's website, www.dfa.ie, and on the websites of Irish embassies and consulates in the USA. I agree with Deputy Naughten. It is essential that there be a thorough process of information in order to ensure that people are fully informed.
On the assistance provided by the Government to the Irish in the USA, Deputy Naughten will be aware that since 2003, on behalf of the people of Ireland, the Government has awarded almost $27 million to Irish organisations across the USA that provide vital support to the Irish community there. This funding is provided through the emigrant support programme and it is a source of pride that, despite the severe economic downturn of recent years, we maintained the ESP funding at significant levels.
During my recent visit and that of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, he announced that funding for 2014-15 will amount to $2.3 million, granted across 34 organisations. I take the point that resources are vital and they are an issue in the context of ensuring that adequate information is available to our citizens abroad.
I thank the Minister for his acknowledgement of that because it is an important issue. We do not want to miss the boat simply because we do not have the necessary capacity and capability on the other side of the Atlantic. We now need to redouble our efforts in regard to the undocumented Irish which do not fall under President Obama's announcement. The Minister has continued his communications with people in Capitol Hill, both directly and through the ambassador. What progress is being made on that?
A suggestion was made at a meeting in Leinster House attended by Mr. Bruce Morrison, who has a long track record in this area. Fundamentally important to ensuring that we do not have a recurring problem in the long term is having some reciprocal arrangement such as an E3 visa to ensure that there is a legitimate mechanism to allow for people from Ireland to work in the USA and for US citizens to come and work here.
I wish to assure the House that the funding will continue. I agree that further action will be needed to resolve immigration reform in the USA. While President Obama's action is of course welcome and is a major step forward, it does not end the debate on further immigration reform. He has made it clear that he considers that there is a need for further legislation in this area and that such action, in the form of legislation, would supersede the executive action he took last week. While there appears to be a certain amount of willingness to consider further action in Congress at some future date, this is dependent, as the Deputy will appreciate, on many factors and will not be easily achieved. However, we are keeping in close contact with high level opinion formers, influencers and leaders on the Democrat and Republican sides.
I wish to acknowledge the work of Deputies in the House to ensure high level contacts are not only maintained but enhanced. I acknowledge the work of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputies from the west of Ireland and those in Deputies Crowe and Smith's parties. This is an issue of significant importance to all Irish families. While progress can be reported, much work remains outstanding.
