Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and wish him well in his continuing work on this very important issue. We are all aware of families, and often elderly parents, who are concerned that sons or daughters may not be able to travel home from the United States for family occasions. It is raised constantly at our constituency clinics, in particular with those of us who represent counties with a significant history of emigration. I cannot emphasise strongly enough the importance of ensuring that every avenue is pursued to try to make progress on this very important issue.

Does the Minister have an update on the executive proposal initiated by President Obama some time ago, which a section of the Republican Party opposed? It has been indicated to me that some countries got a visa waiver programme and that we had not sought such a scheme. I do not know if that is correct.

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