Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for taking this matter on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

I was very disappointed to read an article on Monday, 24 January in The Irish Timesabout the need for stronger advocacy in Washington on Irish-American issues and for Irish people living and working in the USA. The article details a statement issued by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, one of the largest Irish organisations outside of Ireland. This feeling is shared by most of the Irish community living in the USA, especially the undocumented who feel that they have been forgotten about by this Government. The Irish-American group has appointed a former Fine Gael Deputy, Mr. John Deasy, as its head of government affairs. He took a swipe at the Department of Foreign Affairs in the same article, saying: "It’s fair to say the view in America is that the new management team need to get the department back to basics." That is a damning quote from a former Fine Gael Deputy who is now working in the USA.

Having lived and worked in Boston for many years, I know only too well the difficulties Irish people in the USA face, especially the undocumented. This time last year I raised the issue of undocumented Irish people in the USA with the Taoiseach and asked him to raise their plight with newly-elected President Biden. Has the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Taoiseach raised this issue with the American Administration? Covid has meant that the last two years were especially difficult for the undocumented. Those who were not working would not have had any income. Our people in the USA are hard working. They contribute to society and have made their lives over there. Many have lost loved ones in Ireland including mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters but they could not come home because of the fear of not getting back into the US, which is now their home. Has any progress been made on establishing an E3 visa agreement between Ireland and the USA?

If we are to be true to Bunreacht na hÉireann and the Irish nation at home and abroad, we must give the diaspora a say in electing a President for this nation, as promised.

What supports are in place for returning emigrants in terms of access to housing, schools and so on?

In a few weeks, Ministers and the Taoiseach will be heading to Washington for St. Patrick's Day. I urge the Government to do all in its power to raise with President Biden the issue of the thousands of undocumented Irish in the USA. We cannot have our people in the USA saying that we in Ireland do not care about them.

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