Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Taoiseach is aware, the Senate and House of Representatives have consistently passed motions unanimously reaffirming their support for the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. All those motions have referred as well to the need to ensure that this international agreement is not diminished in any way as a result of Brexit. They have outlined clearly the parameters of a potential British-US trade agreement. In all engagements with US politicians, be it from the President to members of his government or with Members of Congress, we must always emphasise the urgent need to make progress on regularising the status of the undocumented Irish in the US.

The best estimates are that there are fewer than 10,000 people but the overwhelming majority of those Irish people are working, paying their taxes, rearing families and contributing very well to US society, yet they do not have residency status. We need to make progress in that regard. President Obama brought in legislation but, unfortunately, it was rejected by the US Supreme Court. Subsequently, the House of Representatives passed a motion but it was delayed at the last minute. We need to have that legislative agenda moved on again.

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