Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Howlin knows this from his time in Cabinet. There is no way on earth he would have suggested to the Taoiseach 12 months ago that the Taoiseach should not to travel to Washington D.C. on St. Patrick's Day. To say anything otherwise is ridiculous and is pushing the bounds of reality. Deputy Howlin would not have done it and neither would Deputy Eamon Ryan had he been sitting at the Cabinet table.

There is a reality that we have to deal with. This has a long-standing effect. I do not like the executive order. I condemn the executive order and I have outlined why my party has condemned it. However, we have to live in the real world as well. There are ways of putting across our disgust and displeasure with that order. Such an approach amounts to engaging rather than stepping back and saying we are not going to visit the White House or interact with the new US Administration.

How easy would Deputies feel? My question is for those Members who advocate that our Government should not be represented. The Taoiseach represents the people. It is not only a question for the Taoiseach, because he represents the Dáil and the people. Let us suppose the Taoiseach refused that invitation. How easy would it be for us to get other meetings? How easy would it be for the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to be able to go there and advocate for the undocumented Irish? How easy would it be for any of us to pay a visit to the US Congress, the House or Senate, to explain why our country would go down that route and effectively insult another nation by refusing an invitation on St. Patrick's Day, our national day? It would affect not only that particular event but all the other events that occur around it. Deputies know that is the case. It was an easy soundbite on the day when many people, including me, were singularly angry about the executive order. Many people in America are angry too and this will be dealt with in America. It was an easy soundbite for parties to say the Taoiseach should not travel or that he should not go to the United States. It was not based on any fact or in any reality. That ship has sailed. The Dáil must move on.

It is important we speak in one voice on the fundamental part of this issue, that is to say, as democratically elected Members of Dáil Éireann we condemn the executive order on the basis that I have outlined. It is discriminatory and racist and contravenes the Geneva Convention as well. I hope this ban is overturned. I hope the US Administration has a serious rethink about the road it is going down and the new policies it is undertaking.

I wish to turn briefly to the issue of the undocumented Irish. Like many here, perhaps including Deputies Howlin, Eamon Ryan and Crowe, I have had occasion to raise the issue of the undocumented Irish when in America. It seems we are continually raising it and we are not getting any further down the road. Rather than dealing with immigration reform, groups have come in and are lobbying for overall immigration reform in the United States. It seems further away than ever. How far down the road are we in respect of discussing a bilateral arrangement? It has been discussed at a high level over several years. I am in favour of a deal along the lines of the deal between the Australian and US Administrations. Reciprocal visas are issued to people from both countries with up to 10,000 on each side. Irish undocumented could apply for these. We are going to have to be inventive and think in a new way.

It is pretty clear that under this US Administration there will be no major immigration reform. The plight of our undocumented is even more precarious. Indeed, we have seen the actions of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other agencies in America already. They have clamped down already on those they believe to be illegal immigrants. We really need to redouble our efforts.

I am unsure whether the Minister will have an opportunity to respond later. If not, perhaps the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy McHugh, can. I call on the Minister to bring the House up to date. This has to be a priority for us.

A fair point was raised with me when I was in America. We are dealing with 50,000 plus Irish in America who are undocumented. However, we have undocumented people in Ireland as well. We have to remember that. All parties and the Government should look at dealing with that matter and regularising the undocumented people who have been here for eight, nine or ten years. Their children have been born in Ireland but they still have no status. I believe that would strengthen our case when we are advocating for Irish citizens abroad. We could demonstrate that the Irish State has taken a positive step in respect of regularising undocumented people who live here and who deserve to stay. We should consider these elements.

It is clear that the executive order is most unhelpful. My party condemns it completely. I call on the Taoiseach to raise the views of the elected Members directly with President Trump and his Administration on 17 March and at every opportunity thereafter. It is unfortunate, as I said, that we do not have a motion that can be passed from the House. That is not the fault of anyone sitting here. It is telling that no one from AAA-PBP is here to contribute to the debate. They shouted loudest in the days after the executive order. They were beating their chests and pulling their hair out and berating everyone else. Deputy Coppinger was at it that day. Despite this, they are not even here to contribute. That is rather telling about their policies and political approach to the issue. I thank the Minister for outlining the Government position. I hope he takes the points of the Fianna Fáil party on board.

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