Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The first thing is that Ireland's priority in dealing with any Government, whether newly elected or otherwise, is to ensure we serve the interests of Irish citizens. We have had long trading, political and social connections with the United States and they continue to be really important to us in terms of employment, social connection and the political handling of issues such as the one the Deputy raised on the undocumented Irish. We deal with countries with whose politics we do not always agree. In terms of pursuing the interests of Irish citizens, we have to be conscious that in every state, people will select people whose policies we do not all agree with. Ireland upholds the highest standards in all international organisations in terms of the protection of rights and so on and it will continue to do so.

Specifically on the issue of the Irish undocumented, there have been meetings, as the Deputy knows, between the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Flanagan, and representatives of the US Government at all levels, including the Houses of Congress, the Senate and the Administration. Those will continue to be pursued because it is a really important area of public concern for our citizens, which the Government has an obligation to pursue. We will continue to do that. We will support organisations that deliver front-line services and community care to Irish emigrants in those situations through emigrant support programmes and otherwise.

The Deputy expressed concerns about some of the campaigning that occurred and some of the policies that might ensue. Our primary interest is to make sure that in some of these new policy directions, we work to ensure that Irish citizens' interests are protected. There are changes in many areas including migration policy, tax policy and at home. These are elements on which we need to be alert to the potential implications for us. I assure the Deputy that all parts of the Government are very alert to those elements. It will protect Irish interests, the interests of Irish people and will work with the new Administration and the wider interests on Capitol Hill, which remain a fundamental part of long-term decision-making. The US constitution contains the concept of balance of power and it is important that we relate to all sections of the administration and democratic representation within the US. If we pursue that, as the Taoiseach has done consistently, we will protect the interests of Irish citizens and, in particular, the undocumented Irish for whom Deputy McDonald has expressed a particular concern.

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