Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 9 together.

Since the tragic events of 11 September 2001, immigration has become a highly sensitive and divisive issue in the United States. The Bill recently published by Senators Kennedy and McCain and their colleagues, represents an important, timely and positive contribution to advancing the debate on this sensitive issue and it is warmly welcomed by the Government. Among the provisions in the Bill are proposals that would grant undocumented people an opportunity to regularise their status.

As with all legislative proposals in the US, the Kennedy-McCain initiative must be considered in detail by Congress. We can anticipate a vigorous debate in the period ahead on this and other proposed immigration measures but the clear and constructive proposals put forward by Senators Kennedy and McCain will stimulate a debate, which we hope will be fruitful and lead to a positive outcome.

The Deputies can be assured that the issues of our undocumented citizens and immigration reform have the highest priority for the Government. The Taoiseach and the Minister raised the issue of the undocumented, as well as the issue of wider immigration reform, with President Bush when they met with him on St. Patrick's Day and also on Capitol Hill at that time. President Bush re-affirmed his willingness to work with Congress on immigration reform. Our priority in the period ahead will be to lobby strongly in support of the Kennedy-McCain Bill and to encourage the White House to become involved in support of the reform process.

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