Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assure Deputy Darragh O'Brien that the Government continues to offer active and comprehensive support to Irish communities abroad, particularly in the United States of America, where many emigrant support groups provide assistance to the large Irish community there. Issues relating to Irish people who are undocumented and whose status has not been regularised feature strongly in our emigrant support programme. We fund several organisations that provide a range of services in the US. I acknowledge the recent changes in respect of the J1 visa programme, which has been tremendously successful and has formed a strong basis of our relationship with US Administrations over the past 50 years. Almost 150,000 Irish third-level students and young people have participated in the programme over the years. Following an announcement that was made last week, an additional 2,600 J1 places will be made available this year. I have discussed at the highest level the need to explore a number of pathways and options that may be available to secure relief for the up to 50,000 undocumented Irish people in the US. It is important that every avenue and every opportunity is pursued. My understanding is that there may well be an initiative in the US towards the end of this year. That depends on scheduling and the speed with which legislation goes through the Houses of Congress. We have some direct experience of that here.

The answer to Deputy Connolly's question is "Yes". I availed of the opportunity to express the deep concern of the Irish Government and the Irish people with regard to the nature and impact of the executive order of 27 January. I assure the Deputy this issue was an agenda item at almost every meeting I attended. I gave a clear picture of this country's concerns regarding the executive order at a number of my engagements by pointing out its damaging humanitarian consequences and its damaging effect on the international reputation of the US itself.

See this speech in context