Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 40 together.

The Government attaches the highest priority to the welfare of the undocumented Irish in the United States, and takes every opportunity in contacts with US political leaders to emphasise the importance of addressing the matter in a constructive and sympathetic way. As Deputies are aware, the debate in the US on immigration reform has entered a critical stage. The St. Patrick's Day period provided the Government with an especially timely opportunity to make known our views on this matter and, in particular, our strong support for the approach favoured by Senators Kennedy and McCain. It was an opportunity we availed of to the full in our meetings with President Bush, his Administration and key figures on Capitol Hill. President Bush was appreciative of our position and he helpfully reiterated to us his support for a broad approach which involves reform as well as enforcement, an approach he subsequently emphasised again in speeches later in the month.

The Taoiseach and I had a series of valuable meetings with members of Congress. In each of these meetings we gave particular prominence to our views on the issue of the undocumented Irish and the need to address the situation. We were particularly pleased to have the opportunity again to thank Senators Kennedy and McCain for their leadership on this issue. For their part they are warmly appreciative of the Government's support and that of the Oireachtas for their efforts.

The engagement of the Government is complemented most effectively by the significant mobilisation of the Irish community in the US on this issue. In this regard, the Taoiseach and I had a valuable discussion with Niall O'Dowd and Grant Lally of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, ILIR. I commend the work of the ILIR which has had a significant impact on the debate in Washington and elsewhere in the US and whose work I have been pleased to support financially. We agreed to remain in close contact as the legislative process in Washington progresses.

Since our St. Patrick's Day visit, there has been a positive development with the passage through the Senate Judiciary Committee of a comprehensive immigration reform Bill which includes key elements of the approach favoured by Senators Kennedy and McCain. I consider this to be a significant development and warmly welcome it. However, it remains clear that reaching consensus on this sensitive and divisive issue presents US legislators with a formidable challenge. Consideration of this matter has moved to the floor of the full Senate where a debate began on Wednesday last, 29 March.

The Government will continue to monitor the ongoing debate closely and emphasise our strong support for the regularisation of the status of the undocumented Irish in the US. In this regard, I warmly welcome last week's visit of the Chairman and members of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs to Washington.

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