Martin Mansergh (Tipperary South, Fianna Fail)

I am delighted to support this agreed motion and congratulate the Fine Gael Party for using its time to highlight an issue of concern to countless families throughout the country because their offspring, undocumented in the US, are unable to come home for family reasons and are vulnerable to exploitation.

For 20 years the undocumented Irish have been a major issue with successive Irish Governments and every party in this House. The problem reflects the wave of emigration in the second half of the 1980s and for much of the 1990s in an era of still high unemployment. There was also the attraction of the US as a land of opportunity. There has been a major combined effort on both sides of the Atlantic involving the White House, our friends in Congress, Irish lobby groups, one of the most prominent members of which is led by Niall O'Dowd, a brother of a Fine Gael Front Bench spokesperson, and emigrant groups who have received some funding from the Government.

I am confident that no stone is being left unturned. About 16 years ago we achieved with the help of friends in Congress, the Morrison visas, and in more recent times with the McCain and Kennedy proposals we came very close to a solution. Unfortunately it was not brought to fruition. We have very close links with America which I will not go over again and, of course, the US economy is dependent on the 11 million or so undocumented, not just Irish, but of every nationality. The obstacles are internal political obstacles. Obviously the attacks on 11 September 2001 made the whole situation immensely more difficult. There is also the issue of possible discrimination between nationalities. Nonetheless there has been an exploration of bilateral options not open to that interpretation. Perhaps with the forthcoming election it will be possible to get commitments for afterwards. Our own experience should help inform us of some of the difficulties, even though our position is not the same.

We are not looking for a favour but the young Irish have a great deal to contribute to the American economy and society and, indeed, Ireland is part of the make-up of America. It is not satisfactory to have a legal position which is uncertain and unenforceable. Looking to the longer term it may seem Utopian but it would be great if the EU and the US could develop a common travel area along with free trade investment and other forms of free movement.

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