Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I beg to differ with the Taoiseach. His predecessor stated that this concern with those who are undocumented amounted to what he described as pub talk in a lot of cases. This was taken as a deep insult by people from this country working is the US who find themselves in a legal limbo because they are undocumented. The Government got into some degree of tension with the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. When that group went to Washington in March, the secretary dealing with immigration reform was not aware of the House having passed the unanimous motion.

What are the vantage points to which the Taoiseach refers when he states he wants to pursue this issue from a number of vantage points? I will help the Taoiseach if I can. Those who I met in the Bronx and Yonkers and those who have e-mailed me want a legitimate structure by which they can earn a right to continue to live in the US. That is the problem, which is part of a bigger picture when there are millions more streaming into the US from many countries. We have a special relationship with the US for all of those reasons. It is not a case of dealing with people who want to go to the US in the future for a short-term working career and having a reciprocal arrangement but dealing with the 50,000 who are currently there, married or single, and contributing to the US economy and who want a legitimate facility to continue to live there because that is their wish. That is where the political effort from the Government should be.

The Taoiseach can rest assured of the assistance of this side of the House in building on the platform that was passed by the House. I would like to see the Taoiseach make this an international priority for his term in office. This would be in the interests of both countries to have this dealt with in a way that will stand the test of time for those who are currently there and for those who may want to go to the US in the future. It should be done in reciprocal fashion.

The bilateral tax arrangements with the US are due for review next year. Barack Obama has made comments about the repatriation of American profits and taxes. Is the Taoiseach concerned about the future in the context of foreign direct investment from the US? What issues will arise at the review of the bilateral tax arrangements? Does he expect to have discussions about that in the near future? Will he meet President Bush before he leaves office?

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