Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am delighted the motion is before the House. However, I would like to sound a word of caution. Many Irish mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, and aunts and uncles are very worried about this situation. I do not want a false message to go out that this legislation is actually happening.

I welcome the US ambassador. He visited my county of Mayo last week. He has a connection with Mayo and I know he enjoyed his stay there. I am glad to see him. I say to him that given all the previous ambassadors and US Presidents with Irish connections, it amazes me that a situation ever arose whereby Irish people were not allowed to enter the US. Irish people built America — they built the roads and did all the dirty work. When my grandfather died, he was buried with the American flag. His brother died in 1921 and received a State funeral because he helped to set up the State. My grandfather was proud to have the American flag with him. That was his wish, which was honoured by the Embassy, which sent the flag. Many of my aunts and uncles are buried in America, which they loved, as I do. However, it amazes me that the people of a small country like Ireland never had free passage into the US, as we have into Britain. However, we must deal with the existing situation.

There is a problem in America, whether people like it or not. Irish-American politicians are not sure about this legislation and have not yet committed themselves to supporting it. This is a very political issue in America because there are between 14 million and 15 million Mexicans in that country. As the previous speakers said, there will not be an amnesty and the legislation will have to cover all sections of society in America.

I was glad Deputies Connaughton, McGinley, Coveney and I went to America at our own expense where we met people from Fianna Fáil. I am glad that at last the Irish Government considers this to be a very serious problem, that our citizens abroad must be protected and that we cannot simply forget about them when they go to America or any other part of the world. One thing that can be said about the American Government is that when its citizens face a problem, no matter what part of the world they are in, it deals with it. It looks after its own citizens and it is only right that our Government and agencies look after our citizens.

I come from a county that experienced much emigration. There is no doubt but that many of my constituents are in America illegally. I hope this legislation will be passed. I ask the American ambassador and the Irish Government to keep lobbying Irish-American politicians to make sure this legislation is passed. A mother in my county has not seen her son for seven years. She has cancer and she knows she will not be around too long. She is no longer able to go to the United States of America, although she used to go every year to see her son, daughter-in-law and their child. She is no longer able to go because of illness. She knows she might never see her son again. A woman visited my constituency office whose husband died last November but her son could not return home for his father's funeral because he knew if he did, he would not get back into America. She is afraid she will die and that her son will not be able to return for her funeral. This situation must be dealt with.

America has always been good to Ireland, and Ireland has been good to America. There has been much criticism of America in the past but I have not criticised America. America has created much employment here. In the town from which I come, 1,000 people are employed in an American company which has been there for more than 30 years. It has been a good employer and it has been good for the town and the country.

As the previous speaker said, it is important that when this legislation is passed by the US Senate, Irish citizens will not have to come home and that whatever documentation or paperwork is required is dealt with in America. People are afraid that if they are sent home, they will not get back into the United States of America. These people are not in America because they have to be. They are there because they want to be. They love America. It has become their home and it is where they want to bring up their children. They are not there for economic reasons and that is why I hope this Bill is passed quickly, that our people can be dealt with as speedily as possible and that this situation will never arise again. I believe this is the last legislation that will deal with emigration to America, particularly for the Irish.

I hope the Irish Government will deal fairly with the immigration problem we have here. We cannot be hypocritical and have it both ways. We cannot ask the American ambassador and American Government to look after our citizens without trying to deal with the immigration problem we have and not run away from it.

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