Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this extremely important issue. It is an issue that can regularly be forgotten in today's economic climate. As there is such a change in economic circumstances, people are no longer forced to leave the country to find gainful employment, to rear a family and to have an outlook on life to allow them to live out their lives with dignity. We need to lobby extensively to ensure the problem is resolved once and for all. It is critical to remember not just those who were forced to travel to the United States, but also their families who are separated from them in such a painful way. As many of us are starting to plan for Christmas, many families here will not be able to see their loved ones as a result of the situation that prevails in the United States.

I welcome the fact that this is an agreed motion. No party, politician or individual has a monopoly on good ideas or on the process to resolve this issue. There has been a very good bipartisan approach to the lobbying that has taken place. I am delighted that it will continue in this session. While there are difficulties in the United States, it is primarily a problem that the Oireachtas through the Minister and the Taoiseach will need to continue to pursue with the legislature in the United States to ensure resolution of the situation once and for all.

There is a particular genesis to tonight's motion and its bilateral approach. In his speech the Minister of State clearly identified that following the Australian model does not guarantee that the undocumented problem will be solved, as the Australian model does not account for the undocumented Irish. Anything we do now should reflect clearly on those affected rather than on those who might wish to travel to the United States in the future. It is important to reach a comprehensive agreement or deal that caters for the people currently affected and their families. We need to be careful not to create a false sense of hope by giving priority to this bilateral approach. The effect of our support for this element should not give false hope to the people directly affected on the ground in the United States or their families here at home. We must strive to resolve the problem in the most comprehensive way possible.

I compliment the efforts of many people directly involved in this House and in the US Congress. I also compliment the many people who have been involved in lobbying in Ireland and the United States. There are many small groupings of people directly affected. The parents and siblings of the undocumented in the United States have sought to encourage debate here and have made efforts to lobby us all. There are many people from my constituency in County Clare who are directly affected by the issue. While it is a problem across the country it is particularly so in the west. The pain these people continue to suffer spurs us all on to find a resolution. I also recognise the efforts of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, in particular Niall O'Dowd, Grant Lally and Jeff Cleary. Those three people have been in this country on many occasions and have met various political groupings and other people who have an interest and are involved. They keep in regular contact with the Minister for Foreign Affairs as the Minister with direct responsibility in this regard. They continue to work with their own politicians in the United States. Both Grant Lally and Jeff Cleary are Irish-American. They could quickly put their hands in their pockets and walk away from this. They have other activities in which to be engaged but they are committed to their efforts.

It is disappointing that this problem has persisted for so long but I hope a comprehensive solution will be found. Given that 11 million immigrants are undocumented in the US of who between 25,000 and 50,000 are Irish, the Irish element is very small. For that reason, the US Administration should demonstrate goodwill to find a resolution to this problem. The undocumented Irish are by their nature hard working and they have contributed to the society in which they live and which they have helped to create. It is only right that a comprehensive approach be taken to this issue. Comprehensive immigration reform legislation is needed to ensure these people will have a right to reside in the country they have helped build.

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