John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests for presenting to the committee this afternoon. It was very informative. I commend them on the ongoing work they are engaged in. Like Senator Craughwell, my eldest daughter had the honour of availing of a J1 visa and spent a very happy time in San Diego a number of years ago. She built up strong relationships and friendships as a result of that. It is almost seen as a rite of passage for many young people now.

My first question concerns the J1 visa programme and the serious backlog as a result of some of the Covid measures within the United States Embassy. With regard to engagement with the embassy, when might they be on top of the backlog? What measures have been put in place to deal with the backlog? I appreciate that the embassy officials are working under extremely difficult challenges, which are presented to everyone, even with the other visas. The embassy staff have been working remotely, which has had a serious impact on their ability to process any visas. What engagement has taken place and what kinds of assurances or commitments have been given around processing those?

The issue of emigrants returning to Ireland has presented itself as a challenge for many families that have come back to Ireland after spending many years in the US. They have said that they have faced serious challenges here in Ireland, even in terms of simple things such as trying to open a bank account or accessing other services that normally would be open to them. Has that cropped up as an issue in any of the witnesses' engagements with Irish people?

The final issue I wish to raise is those who are undocumented. Following on from some of the comments made, it is a serious issue that faces more than 20,000 Irish people who are living in the US. They face serious challenges continuously, but particularly in the past 18 months or thereabouts, in accessing the services and supports they should or could have been able to access in the US, were they fully recognised. In light of the coming to office of a new President in President Biden, what hopes are there or what engagements have taken place to date with a view to trying to address that serious issue, which, unfortunately, has not been dealt with for far too long? Given President Biden's strong Irish connections and roots, there is a hope the issue will finally be dealt with comprehensively. I ask the witnesses for their views on the ongoing challenges and the hope that the new US President will actually deliver.