John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I thank the Minister for his reply. Have a substantial number of Republican Senators and members of the House of Representatives expressed concern about the idea of an amnesty for those they consider illegal? I know the Minister lobbied the President of the United States and certain Senators. Has the Minister lobbied those members of the Republican Party who appear to be recalcitrant? How effective was the lobbying campaign carried out by Niall O'Dowd and others? Is there a sense that the Minister is inhibited by his lobbying efforts from raising other important matters such as extraordinary renditions, Guantanamo Bay and the war in Iraq because he wants to deal with this issue in a comprehensive way and is trying to express his concerns about the undocumented Irish? Do these concerns inhibit the Minister from raising other issues?

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