Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his comments on Quinnipiac, a fine, young, growing university. President Clinton continues to express a very knowledgeable and far-seeing view on Ireland and Northern Ireland and the issues that evolve there. He has never lost his passion for and interest in the issues surrounding Northern Ireland, for which I always commend him.

The issue of the undocumented takes up much time. It appears as though the agencies that issue the J1 visas will discontinue it for people who do not have employment in place before they go to the US. It will be very difficult to deal with, as the Deputy knows. The consequences will be twofold.

First, it will certainly lessen the number of J1 visas issued to Irish students. This important link between Ireland and America has led to the development of new acquaintances, opportunities and businesses over many years. We want to keep that link very much established. Second, if some of those who travel to the United States on holidays or on vacation decide to look for jobs, they will create real problems for themselves for years to come if they are found to be working illegally and without documentation. Ambassador O'Malley has been very strong in trying to ensure nobody who wants to go to America next year is denied such an opportunity. The Irish ambassador to the US, Ms Anne Anderson, has been working very hard on Capitol Hill, but the agencies that authorise J1 visas are completely independent. That is an issue.

I have spoken to Ciarán Staunton on many occasions in respect of various opportunities that might exist for different kinds of visas or waiver schemes that could involve taking up the slack of other countries. To be honest with Deputy Adams, I cannot see much happening in this regard in light of the state of political play in Washington at the moment. We have all heard of the opportunities that exist to tag sections onto legislation going through the Senate or the House of Representatives. Given the tensions that exist between both houses at the moment, I cannot see that this will move on. I might just say in passing that some of the comments I have heard recently about closing down America, in effect, are not the America that we know. I suggest, in the context of globalisation and the movement of people throughout the planet, that openness, diplomacy, understanding and education are the sorts of wars that should be fought in the future so that people have opportunities to work with one another and share their common humanity.

I spoke to President el-Sisi in New York. I had a good meeting with him. He was very frank and open about the difficulties that exist in Egypt and in his response to my comments about the number of visits our consul general has made to the prison and our considerable interest in the ongoing situation of young Ibrahim Halawa. As I have pointed out previously, of course it is not for me or for this country to say we want to throw aside the judicial system that exists in Egypt. President el-Sisi was very clear in his remarks about the authority that is vested in him to use presidential pardons and when they might be used. I might add that the Egyptian ambassador here recently sent me a letter about this case. I will forward copies of it to Deputies Adams and Martin for their information. I met President el-Sisi briefly in Paris last week in the context of all the leaders who were there. I had a brief conversation with him about the Halawa case. I mentioned to him that the Egyptian ambassador here had sent a further piece of correspondence.

I think we should return to the question of Palestine and Israel again. Obviously, it is a matter that is still under consideration here.

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