Mr. Ciarán Staunton:

Over many decades, we have always tried to steer away from the issue of numbers because they do not bring anything to the debate. Legislation will not be passed based on whether there are 5,000, 25,000 or 50,000 Irish people over in the US. However, our commitment has to be to Irish citizens who are illegally in the US. That is what the Irish Government and the Irish-American community have done over the years.

In respect of what is going on at the moment, Mr. Stahl summed it up fairly well. In respect of jobs, there is some interest in agricultural workers and those who want to work in that area. There is an interest those in the hi-tech business. There is some interest in the dreamers, that is, those who came over when they were young. There is very little interest in others than those, with the general amnesty as they call it.

There is a very tight balance in the House. I will not repeat what Mr. Stahl has said already. As far as Irish-Americans are concerned, we have not given up hope that with President Biden, Senator Schumer, Nancy Pelosi and others, the Irish community will be looked after when there is comprehensive immigration reform. That is where we are, effectively.