Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

It was made clear to our representatives at the conference in the United States that the word "amnesty" is not one that should be used in this context. There are up to 10 million undocumented people in the United States, presenting a great difficulty for that country's Administration. Officials at our consulates and embassies around the US are maintaining close contacts with various figures in the US Administration and legislature in respect of all possible avenues towards achieving positive conclusions to immigration reform.

Increasingly, immigrants in the US originate from countries in the Americas and Asia. In these circumstances, it is difficult to see how a proposal designed to cater for Irish interests alone could gather sufficient consensus in Congress to be accepted. In this context, we must support measures for immigration reform that would benefit undocumented people in general, including the Irish. There is much good will and respect for Irish people at every level within the US. We will work together to achieve progress and are optimistic that this can be done.

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