Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not wish to raise expectations on this issue. Undoubtedly, this is a step in the right direction and represents real and substantial progress. It is an acknowledgement of the hard work undertaken over a long number of years but particularly in recent times by the Ministers of State at my Department, Deputies Sean Sherlock and Jimmy Deenihan, who visited the US on numerous occasions, the Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Pat Breen and by Members from all sides of the House who, over many years, have expressed a deep-seated interest in dealing with what has been a traumatic experience for tens of thousands of undocumented Irish in the US who have been unable to come home. They have been unable to return to visit their families and loved ones in Ireland and have missed funerals and weddings and so forth. They have been divorced from their families in a way that has been traumatic and that has caused great hardship.

The announcement last week from President Obama represents progress, albeit with further important steps yet to be achieved. I am happy that progress is real and am determined that as many Irish nationals as possible will benefit from these changes. It is estimated that there are up to 50,000 undocumented Irish in the US and that tens of thousands of them will be in a position to benefit from the changes announced last week.

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