Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I must ask the Minister to be patient, this is what the debate is about. He will get credit where it is due and vice versa.

At various times over the years the Government has tried to put a figure on the number of undocumented Irish in America. Sometimes we are told it is 5,000 and at other times it is supposed to be 50,000. Nobody really knows. However, based on anecedotal evidence we heard when Deputies McGinley, Ring, Coveney and I visited as a Fine Gael delegation earlier in this year, the figure is closer to 50,000 than to 5,000. While there, I found a widespread fear among the young undocumented Irish concerning the possibility of deportation, thereby causing the break up of families, loss of income and many other related problems.

It is important that the Government and the relevant Minister avail of every channel and opportunity to talk to as many members of the US Senate and Congress as possible to help with the implementation of the Kennedy-McCain immigration proposals as a matter of urgency. Despite the fact that these proposals were first introduced last May, the committee dealing with this subject in the US Congress has only looked at them briefly, for a variety of reasons. Appointments to the Supreme Court and other matters have intervened to keep this vital legislation on the back burner.

My contacts on Capitol Hill indicate that there should be some movement next month or the month after that, as the Minister has said. I take at face value the fact that the original view of both Senators Kennedy and McCain and their staff was that the legislation may be wrapped up by December 2006. I am not sure this timetable will stand. What is the Minister's information in that regard?

During our visit to the United States I found that apart from the war in Iraq no issue attracts the attention of ordinary citizens more than immigration. Every major television network including CNN and Fox News continually carried top stories concerning immigration issues. Regardless of whether there are 20,000 or 50,000 of them, the Government must ensure the plight of undocumented Irish people in the United States is not lost in the raging US debate on immigration with its particular emphasis on 1 million Mexicans who cross into the US every year. While the majority of the many politicians we met on Capitol Hill, in particular those with Irish connections, were most anxious to help our case, nevertheless, many of them believed Ireland did not have a problem and other countries presented a bigger problem. It is important, therefore, to continue to lobby US politicians.

During our visit politicians and ordinary citizens displayed great goodwill towards Irish people living in the United States. We met several businessmen and lawyers in New York who opposed deportation of Irish people under any circumstances. With their language and work skills Irish workers are regarded as the jewel in the crown of US labour markets. The United States, however, has an unusually badly regulated immigration policy which, apart from some minor adjustments, has not been changed for years. We found that some right-wing politicians want to deport illegal immigrants immediately and as Deputies will be aware as well as the Kennedy-McCain Bill a rival Bill has been introduced in Congress. We can rest assured it is not without its supporters.

The undocumented Irish in the United States require the protection of US law before they can come forward to the immigration authorities. No undocumented Irish person will go near the authorities unless and until the new proposals are signed into law. This is a reasonable approach. Of all the nationalities in the United States, the Irish are most likely to meet the criteria of the proposed legislation. Not only are most of them in well paid jobs but many of them are employers whose skills are urgently required in the economy. Some commentators believe a special amnesty similar to the Bruce Morrison visa scheme should be introduced. However, the impact of the attacks on 11 September 2001 on ordinary citizens means no amnesty of any description will be introduced.

I thank the American ambassador and his staff for their help. I also thank the special unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is working extremely well, the Bishop of Derry, Dr. Seamus Hegarty, and Fr. Alan Hillard for their great work on this issue. I hope Deputies will be given much more time to discuss this critical issue in future because I could speak for an hour on its many facets. I sincerely hope the parties will co-operate to engineer such a lengthy debate on behalf of every Irish citizen living in the United States, Britain or elsewhere.

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