21 Samh 2014, 10:26
The Chairman of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade Pat Breen TD has welcomed the overnight announcement by US President Barack Obama on immigration reform.
21 November 2014
Deputy Breen says: “The first steps on immigration reform announced by President Obama overnight are to be warmly welcomed. These temporary measures usher in a more compassionate approach, paving the way for many undocumented Irish in the United States to visit home.
“The plight of the undocumented Irish has been a priority for our Committee, with five delegations travelling to Washington during this Dáil term to meet with key voices on Capitol Hill on the issue. My visit there in September 2014 included meetings with Speaker John Boehner and Congressmen Paul Ryan and Luis Gutierrez. While acknowledging the opposition to the Obama proposals within Congress, I hope that the political will evident in Washington during my visit will deliver a practical and commonsense solution.
“On behalf of the Committee, I wish to welcome this encouraging start on a complex issue, with the hope that all undocumented Irish in the US can finally emerge from living in the shadows.”
ENDS/
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Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade
Deputies:
Pat Breen, Fine Gael (Chairman)
Eric Byrne, Labour
Bernard Durkan, Fine Gael (Vice-Chairman)
Seán Crowe, Sinn Féin
Olivia Mitchell, Fine Gael
Gerald Nash, Labour
Dan Neville, Fine Gael
Brendan Smith, Fianna Fáil
Maureen O’Sullivan, Independent
Senators:
Mark Daly, Fianna Fáil
Lorraine Higgins, Labour
Michael Mullins, Fine Gael
David Norris, Independent
Jim Walsh, Fianna Fáil