Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Taoiseach for his response on an all-party representative group being able to lobby nominated members of Congress. Serious politics are being played about this matter in the United States. President Bush's statement is welcome — on one hand he supports increased security but on the other hand he supports the right to earn citizenship.

While an all-party delegation from here might not have any impact on the eventual direction of the Bill, a different view from the House of Representatives is epitomised when speaking to American Congressmen on homeland security and immigration. They have a very different view in some cases than when one says "we are talking here about Irish undocumented". In that sense it would be helpful that representatives from this House could make their case directly to those nominated.

In the event that the conference fails and it cannot agree on a compromise or way forward, and given that during the November mid-term elections, it will be an issue for both Republican and Democrat politicians could we put in place an arrangement to discuss a bilateral agreement between the US authorities and Ireland?

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