Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

Tá mé chun mo chuid ama a roinnt leis na Teachtaí Connolly, Cowley agus Gormley.

Thar ceann Shinn Féin ba mhaith liom mo thacaíocht a thabhairt do Bhille Kennedy-McCain ar leasú imirce. This measure, if passed, could have positive and life-changing consequences for undocumented workers living in the United States, thousands or tens of thousands of whom are Irish. Three weeks ago, my colleague, Deputy Crowe, expressed our support for the reform Bill directly to the two American Senators, along with the rest of the all-party delegation, in Capitol Hill, Washington.

The situation of the undocumented Irish living in the United States has been of major concern to Sinn Féin for many years. Our concern centres around the vulnerability of this isolated group of Irish citizens. In particular, we lament the effective exile of this group from Ireland and their families here. This exile results from the real fear that if they were to return here for a visit, holiday, wedding or funeral, they would be unable to re-enter the United States where they have built a life, albeit an uncertain one. It is also likely that this intolerable situation contributes to substance misuse, suicide and depression among undocumented workers. We all know friends or relatives who travelled to the United States in the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s and have heard their harrowing stories of avoiding detection and trying to build a life.

Má rithear Bille Kennedy-McCain, déanfaidh sé mórán chun an cás seo a leigheas. Is ceart agus cuí dá réir go dtacaíonn muid leis an chéim thábhachtach seo atáá glacadh ag an mbeirt Seanadóirí agus an bheirt ó Theach na nIonadaithe.

I would also like to use this rare opportunity of Oireachtas enlightened consensus and goodwill around a positive immigration reform to push for a similar measure here. Members of the Oireachtas should not promote the introduction of an immigration policy in another jurisdiction that they would not be prepared to introduce here.

In the same way we have expressed empathy en masse with the undocumented Irish in the United States, let us do the same with regard to undocumented workers here. Sinn Féin calls on the Government to introduce a system to regularise undocumented migrants here. This system should, in line with recommendations of the Immigrant Council of Ireland, prioritise the human rights of such people and recognise that the vast majority are involuntary migrants desperately seeking work, as so many Irish have done abroad before them.

This type of immigration policy reform is vitally necessary to bring an end to the exploitation of this group by some unscrupulous employers in the State and to meet the legitimate needs and the right of migrants to maintain real contact with their respective families at home. A failure to introduce such reform would amount to nothing short of hypocrisy.

I welcome the opportunity provided by this motion to support the Kennedy-McCain legislation, which has real potential to improve the current insupportable circumstances of many Irish people in the United States of America. I look forward to the day when those who wish to return to Ireland, albeit on a temporary basis, can do so. I look forward to the day when they can access and be covered by health insurance. I look forward to the day when they can sleep easily, without the fear of being hauled off to a prison pending deportation. I look forward to the day when they can pay taxes officially on foot of their labours and benefit fully from such contributions. Many of the people to whom I refer have contributed greatly to the US economy, but are not reaping the benefits of their contributions in terms of pensions etc., which they deserve. I hope the proposed US legislation will be passed by the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. I hope the Members of this House will soon be able to congratulate the US authorities on their enlightened view of this matter.

Guím rath ar an reachtaíocht seo agus orthu siúd atá tar éis é a chur chun cinn — an Seanadóir Edward Kennedy, an Seanadóir John McCain, an tIonadaí James T. Kolbe agus an tIonadaí Jeff Flake. Tá súil agam go mbeimíd thar n-ais anseo sar i bhfad ag chur chun cinn an polasaí céanna i leith iad siúd atá gan seasamh sa Stát seo. Tacaím go hiomlán leis an rún agus tá súil agam gon-éireoidh leis. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire agus leo siúd a chuidigh leis an rún a chuir os ár gcomhair agus an deis a thabhairt dúinn ár dtacaíocht a léiriú dos na Seanadoírí sna Stáit Aontaithe. Tá súil agam go dtuigeann siad go bhfuil na páirtithe uile sa Stát seo taobh thiar dóibh san obair thábhachtach agus cuí atáá dhéanamh acu ar son saoránaigh Éireannacha. Sa deireadh thiar, is iad saoránaigh Éireannacha atá muid ag caint fúthu.

See this speech in context