Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)

Sinn Féin supports this motion. Immigration and the undocumented Irish are the big issues for the Irish in the US and those associated with Ireland. I appeal to those who are friends of Ireland to support the Kennedy and McCain Bill. There is not a village, town or city in Ireland where people are not affected by this issue. The message coming from this debate is that the Irish people, North and South, east and west, support the resolution of the issue of the undocumented Irish. We urge people to support the Kennedy and McCain Bill.

Speakers referred to the other Bills going through the House on Capitol Hill but the reality is they will not resolve the situation for the undocumented Irish. Between 5 million and 6 million people are affected by this issue in the United States. There has been talk of sending these people back home. Logistically that would be a nightmare for the authorities. The Kennedy and McCain Bill is a way of getting around the difficulties that face the undocumented Irish. I appeal to people, especially those friends who have supported Ireland down through the years, to again make a courageous stand for the undocumented Irish in America and the Irish back home.

See this speech in context