Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

What do we want here? What we strive to achieve is a path to citizenship for those who wish to live in America legally. Two options are available. While we could seek to reach a bilateral arrangement, the process of achieving this is not as simple as it sounds. The second option is to have comprehensive legislation to deal with all nationalities, as the Deputy correctly noted. This was the objective as long ago as the presidency of George W. Bush but the relevant legislation did not pass because of objections from some of the southern states.

On 6 February last, the Speaker of the House, Mr. Boehner, gave a press conference at which he expressed doubts that the House would pass immigration legislation this year. He reasserted the view that immigration reform was required and indicated he would continue to consult members of his party.

This might be impacted upon by the nomination process for representation in different areas. Given the height to which expectations were raised six months ago, this is a disappointment. We must remain engaged with the process and with those who impact on it. As I said, Ambassador Anderson is doing a great deal of work on this in Washington. It is important that people who have connections with the Republican party in the United States engage with it and continue to press for address of the concerns of our undocumented and to provide, therefore, for a future, legal flow for Irish emigrants into the United States.

I am happy to publish the itinerary of my engagements while in Washington, Boston and New York. I expect that the itineraries of every Minister or Minister of State travelling abroad will be also published. This is not only about attending the St. Patrick's Day festivities in whatever country but about engagement with Irish business interests, trade interests, cultural interests and so on. We are attempting to build an itinerary of value around each visit. This is not about travelling long distances to appear at St. Patrick's Day festivities but about a meaningful process around that. I am happy to have all the itineraries published.

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