I thank Deputy Mansergh for sharing time. It is with much contentment that I stand here with the Government having commended this motion to the House. I do not believe there is a single Deputy in the House who does not have a constituent with family members living illegally in the US. Therefore, it is fitting that this motion should be passed by all parties in an attempt to unite the Irish Government's efforts and try to bring about immigration reform in the US.

It is estimated that there are approximately 25,000 undocumented Irish in the US. We are all aware of the hardship they face on a daily basis in addition to the difficulties faced by them by not being able to return home for holidays or to see sick relatives or attend weddings or funerals. This is the type of travel most of us take for granted.

This Government has been hugely committed to bringing about immigration reform in the US for the undocumented Irish. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, has been a frequent visitor to Washington, having travelled there almost 20 times during the past three years in an effort to help bring about a resolution to this matter. While in the past mass emigration to the US was experienced due to hardship in this country, leaving families lonely and communities shattered, we are living in a much more prosperous economy. I was looking at statistics today and note that the Government has allocated €15 million this year for immigration services abroad. That is welcome.

The Taoiseach has brought this issue to the fore during his recent trips to Washington for St. Patrick's Day celebrations in recent years.

While the Irish Government does not have a direct input into US legislation, collectively we have been pressing on those who have a direct input to do what is right for the undocumented Irish. All agree that immigration is a huge problem for the US. The number of undocumented Irish make up a very small fraction of the total number of illegal immigrants in that country. The Irish Government has voiced its backing for the proposal made by Senators Edward Kennedy and John McCain, with which all Members are familiar. This proposal would have provided a key opportunity for the undocumented Irish in the US to legalise their status and secure a path to permanent residency. However, it now looks unlikely that the immigration reform Bill will be passed and I do not envisage any movement on the issue until after the 2008 US presidential election. This does not mean that the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, will not press for immigration reform in the meantime. Last month, he travelled to the US and met many from the political hierarchy to discuss the issue and I believe some progress was made.

Like other speakers, I also pay tribute to the undocumented Irish in the US who have not given up on the fight for immigration reform. The Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform has brought the Irish community in the US together and has ensured the matter remains at the top of everybody's agenda for which it must be commended. I am delighted to speak on this cross-party effort to highlight this important issue. I am glad that politics is not being played with the issue, which affects all of us one way or another. I hope that in the type of publicity arising from a motion like this one the media do not give people false hope. While we all have good wishes and intentions here, we do not want to give false hope to people out there.

See this speech in context