Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is a two-way process, in particular, with regard to IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. We are very anxious to maintain the attraction for investment in Ireland from the United States and from other countries. That is why it is important to engage with those groups and corporations to show what is on offer here, the tax rate, the available talent pool, our track record, technology and the capacity to measure up in whatever way that might be. On the other hand, I refer to the growth in Irish-owned companies in the United States which currently employ nearly 100,000 people across 50 states and which speaks for itself. The old tradition of, "Please give us", is gone. There is a very strong contribution being made by Ireland to the US.

In reply to Deputy Corcoran Kennedy, the outcome of the EU-US trade and investment talks will be potentially very significant. I hope this question of the allegations about involvement in retrieving information in European Union institutions is dealt with and the facts made public so that these talks can proceed. They could be concluded within two years. At the G8 summit in Fermanagh President Obama offered that the talks would commence in July in Washington. He set a time limit of two to two and a half years in order to make real progress. This agreement would be in the interests of Irish companies which wish to do business in the US and through a separate agreement with Canada. The agreement would also mean that business could come the other way.

The strategy for dealing with the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, ILIR, and other groups with regard to immigration issues applies from the very highest level. I raised the matter with President Obama last year and again this year, as we always do. However, we are not in a position to dictate what the US Senate or Congress will do. We have stated clearly that we have an interest and we want to work with them. As the process proceeds we wish to explain the circumstances that apply in respect of our citizens.

While the American President is the most powerful politician on the planet, it is an executive position which must strike a balance between the Senate and the Congress. This was given an impetus by President Obama prior to the recent elections with regard to the Latino vote. Segments of the population which have been in the United States since they were children and before certain dates, were given options. We engage on all sides with the ILIR, with Congressmen and with Senators. We owe a debt of gratitude to Senator Leahy and Senator Schumer who were two of the eight Senators who were the original sponsors of the Senate Bill which has now gone through. The problem is that there are very different views in the House of Representatives and this is where the next battle must be fought. We are not in any position to tell them what they must do. We can tell them what we would like them to do and we can ask them to understand our interest. This is why Members on all sides have engaged with their respective contacts. The Tánaiste is visiting the United States this week. The Irish ambassador and the Irish Embassy in Washington are in constant contact with the various segments and sectors in the Congress. The ILIR - Mr. Staunton and others whom we have met on many occasions - will also keep a very close watching eye.

We would like to think that this matter can be brought to a successful conclusion but it affects many more than just Irish people. At the same time as the Bill was going through, the Senate also approved the expenditure of billions of dollars to build a fence between the US and Mexico. This illustrates the depth of conviction about homeland security and illegal immigration as a result of the 9-11 tragedy.

Our strategy is one of constant engagement and interaction from the level of the President down. We would hope that after a very long campaign over many years the Congress and the representatives of the people will understand the contribution which other nationalities can make to the United States and which they have made - none more so than the Irish - over the past 250 years. We would like to think that this can be brought to a conclusion and that it will provide an opportunity for those who are in the US as undocumented immigrants but who have social security numbers and are contributing to the economy of the United States. Many are married with families and it is hoped this will provide them with a legitimate path to citizenship if that is what they wish. It is a complex issue and the Government is very interested in seeing it make progress. Arising from the suggestion by Deputy Adams, when the time comes we will give consideration to an appropriate level of all-party engagement.

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