Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)

I congratulate Deputy Michael Ring on tabling this motion about the undocumented Irish in America and I thank him for his hard work on the issue to date. I also congratulate the Fianna Fáil-led Government and the Minister on deciding to support our motion, which makes sense.

It is estimated there are more than 50,000 undocumented Irish living in the United States, which makes this a substantive issue that requires urgent Government attention. The 50,000 undocumented Irish are people who have set up home and have deep roots in the United States, raising children and contributing to their communities. I have heard many sad stories through my constituents about their families, sons and daughters in America. These are stories about loneliness and isolation, where siblings cannot return to Ireland for weddings, funerals or for Christmas because of the fear of not regaining entry to the United States. This is not right and it needs to be changed immediately.

I am disappointed that previous attempts to raise this issue have been unsuccessful, particularly the draft Bill on immigration reform, which was the topic of debate in the US Senate earlier this year. It looked very promising, but sadly has not been passed. This would not be the first time that special arrangements were put in place for the Irish in America. In the past we had the Morrison and Donnelly visas. A bilateral agreement between Ireland and America would see the introduction of a new renewable non-immigrant system, which would make it easier for Irish citizens to work in the US. In return, the Government would allow more Americans to work in Ireland and commit itself to a culture of compliance.

It was suggested that the agreement could form part of an overall package, tying in the peace process in the North, given the substantial number of emigrants from the Six Counties who are now illegal in America. I call this evening on the Taoiseach and the Minister to launch a high profile campaign which will enable them to redouble their efforts to ensure pressure is put on the American President to sign a bilateral agreement with Ireland. With St. Patrick's Day not too far away, we should aim to have this bilateral agreement signed by then. I hope this will happen and that we shall see a smiling Taoiseach and a smiling First Minister in the North, Dr. Ian Paisley, sign the agreement with President George Bush. I thank all those Republican and Democratic senators as well as Mr. Niall O'Dowd for the great work they have done in America. I ask all parties involved to work harder on behalf of the undocumented Irish to help them secure visas to regularise their positions in America.

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