Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)

I pay tribute to the people from the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil parties who travelled at their own expense. As the House knows, the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs will travel on Monday, 6 June. I also pay tribute to the work done to encourage production of this legislation. I support fully the provisions of the Bill as published by Kennedy-McCain. Has the Minister of State identified the points of opposition the Bill will face due to the influx of people, mainly the large number of illegal immigrants from Mexico? Has the Government worked to address those areas of opposition? Can the Minister of State offer any advice to the committee members going out next week about what they can do to convince those conservative elements that see any such Bill as a general amnesty to all illegal immigrants?

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