Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I also availed of the J1 visa when I was a student and I found it very useful and valuable. We would certainly like to protect it and it should not be undermined in any way.

The Government fully supports the valuable opportunity the Jl summer work and travel programme provides for Irish students who wish to work and travel in the United States during the summer period. The participation of tens of thousands of young Irish people in the programme has made an important contribution to the development of our bilateral relationship. The issue of possible changes to the Jl programme forms part of the broader context of immigration reform in the United States.

As the Deputy will be aware, the welfare of the Irish abroad has been a top priority for successive governments. In particular, the plight of the undocumented Irish in the United States has been a cause of concern for many years and this Government has been committed to a resolution of their situation. In this regard, the Government has actively pursued our interests in the ongoing debate on immigration reform.

I very much welcome the vote last week by the United States Senate to approve a Bill that provides for comprehensive reform of the American immigration system. That is a very positive development that takes us another step closer to addressing the problems faced by undocumented Irish emigrants in the United States. I strongly welcome the provisions in the Bill passed by the Senate to address the concerns of undocumented Irish emigrants and the specific E3 provisions for Ireland that provide a legal pathway for the future.

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