Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Paula Dobriansky was the latest nominee of President Bush and she is returning to other duties. I understand the Obama Administration intends to continue with such an arrangement whereby a person from the State Department will continue to engage his or her capacities with the process and be helpful in every way possible in terms of confidence building and bringing his or her particular perspective, especially an economic one, to the question of the process and how he or she can help things along. We very much thank all those who have been appointed by previous US Presidents and we look forward to the new appointment and to having a positive working arrangement with the person appointed. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Micheál Martin, will engage most often with the appointee.

On finding a solution for undocumented citizens, supporting our diaspora and addressing the plight of the undocumented in the United States are key objectives of the Government. Finding a resolution for our undocumented community is an important priority for us. We have pursued a bilateral solution to reforming our migration arrangements with the United States. This strategy has three key objectives — the solution for our undocumented; the establishment of a new long-term reciprocal working visa system known as the E3; and the working holiday agreement. A new working holiday agreement between the two countries has now been achieved. Detailed discussions are being held with senior members of Congress in respect of the second issue.

However, finding a solution for the undocumented remains our key priority in this area. In taking up the issue with the new US Administration and with Congress we are building on the extensive work on behalf of the undocumented the Government has carried out over recent years with many of those now within the Administration, and in co-operation with the Irish lobby for immigration reform. Since 2006, the Government has provided funding of $235,000 for this work.

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