Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

When I was in the US, I made it my business to meet a number of Democrats and to speak to a number of Senators and Congressmen on both sides about the issue of the E3 visas. The Deputy will be well aware of the political interchange that goes on between Senators and Congressmen in various parts of the US who have an interest in this issue but, clearly, the position in so far as the party system is concerned has been paralysed because of politics on a range of issues. A Bill sponsored by one party may not be accepted by the other but the party may be able to tag it on other legislation going through Congress. To be honest, I feel it will not be sorted out before the presidential election in November. The stakes in a number of states are probably too political. I may be wrong - I hope I am- that this could be resolved in terms of the E3 visas for the undocumented Irish. I am aware that the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform is working with the Republican Party to sort out a number of misunderstandings to see whether extra assistance can be brought about. We would like this resolved but I made it perfectly clear to the delegation that it is not our right or our position to attempt to interfere in the process they are going though. I met them face to face both here and in the US and I put that to them.

I happen to know a little about emigration and about the people who were forced into it in years gone by and those who have to deal with it now. When I was in Beijing, all of the 500 Irish people I met were there by choice. They have a different view from those who, unfortunately, have to emigrate. It is important we have a fix on those who emigrate to America, Australia or wherever else and that there is a connection with them. It is easy now from a digital perspective and they should be constantly informed as to the progress being made in their part of the country and where employment might be created.

I met the Deputy and other party representatives about the constitutional convention, and the diaspora will be tied in and will be encouraged to participate in the work, discussions and arguments through the website and all the information that will be published there. I welcome the fact the diaspora will be able to do that. There are many, varied, deeply held and widely respected views among members of the diaspora and they will have a full opportunity to participate in these discussions. As I explained to the Deputy previously, the diaspora comprises people who have left voluntarily, those who have left involuntarily, the Army, the Navy and those who serve our country in different parts of the world. They all will have the opportunity to deal with the convention.

I referred in passing to the fact that next September, the Army-Navy college football game will be played in the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. A total of 33,000 American personnel will travel and they will stay for a week with their spend expected to be more than €60 million in Dublin and its hinterland. Enormous opportunities will present for business and new connections to be made.

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