Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 November 2022
334. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if progress has been made on establishing an E3 visa agreement between Ireland and the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57903/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSecuring future immigration flows between the US and Ireland remains a key priority for the Irish Government, and we will continue to explore all possible immigration pathways for Irish citizens looking to live and work in the US.
The bipartisan reintroduction of the E3 bill earlier this year in both the US Senate and the House of Representatives was a welcome development. This legislation, if passed, could allow access to thousands of US visas each year for Irish citizens. The Government is actively supporting this renewed effort to get an ‘Irish specific’ category of E3 visa.
However, as almost every legislative proposal related to immigration reform in the last decade has stalled in Congress, the challenges to enactment should not be underestimated - something I heard clearly when I was in Washington on 16 November. Nonetheless, I and my Government colleagues will continue to take all opportunities to encourage passage of the E3 bill.
Immigration issues, including possible pathways to citizenship, are a priority for President Biden, as demonstrated by his proposed US Citizenship Act of 2021. The Government is actively supporting the efforts being made by his Administration, as well as efforts being made by the US Congress on a bipartisan basis, in pursuit of comprehensive immigration reform, which remains a very divisive issue politically in the US.
The Embassy of Ireland in Washington D.C. proactively seeks out and creates opportunities to meet regularly with Members of the House of Representatives and of the Senate, across the political spectrum in the US. This is a key part of the Government’s ongoing work with the Administration and Congress on finding innovative solutions and immigration pathways to address the challenges faced by the undocumented Irish and those seeking to live and work in the US.
