Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 29 April 2025
203. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the dates which a person (details supplied) served as Government Envoy to the US Congress on the Undocumented; the achievements of the Envoy on behalf of Government while in this role; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19219/25]
View answerThe then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar appointed a Special Envoy to the United States Congress on the Undocumented Irish in June 2017. The Special Envoy served until the end of the 32nd Dail period (February 2020).
The Special Envoy reported directly to the Department of An Taoiseach, with logistical support provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Special Envoy focused on advocating on behalf of the Government to secure legal pathways for Irish immigration and in relation to the undocumented Irish.
Addressing the situation of undocumented Irish emigrants in the United States, and working to secure legal pathways for Irish people seeking to live and work in the US continues to be a priority for the current Government, including in the context of the Programme for Government.
Our diplomatic network across the US works closely with a number of partner organisations and immigration centres supporting Irish immigrants to the US, in particular our community of undocumented citiznes, to offer support and legal advice where appropriate. These organisations are provided financial support under the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme.
In parallel, the Government continues to be very supportive of the efforts to secure an Irish specific E3 visa programme. This would open up a new legal pathway for more Irish citizens to live and work in the US. The recent introduction of a bill seeking to add Ireland to the E3 non-immigrant visa program by Congressman Richard Neal and Congressman Mike Kelly, the bipartisan co-Chairs of the Friends of Ireland Caucus in February 2025 was a welcome development. However, the challenges this bill is likely to face to secure agreement should not be underestimated in the current climate. Almost every U.S. legislative proposal related to immigration reform in the last decade has stalled in the US Congress. Nonetheless, we continue to actively work to secure opportunities to develop immigration pathways for Irish people who wish to live and work in the United States.
