Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Addressing the status of undocumented Irish citizens in the United States remains a priority for the Government and is raised on an ongoing basis in our engagements with the Administration and political leaders in the United States.

The Taoiseach raised immigration matters directly with President Biden during his visit to the White House on St. Patrick's Day. I also discussed immigration extensively in meetings with Members of Congress during my most recent visit to Washington D.C. last month and over the last week in meetings with various political representatives, particularly Mr. Richard Neal. Ireland's Embassy in Washington D.C. and our network of consulates general across the United States continue to monitor the situation closely and to engage with US officials on immigration issues. They also actively support Irish community groups that provide assistance and information to Irish citizens living in the US, including those who are undocumented. Our missions also continue to seek ways to improve the day-to-day lives of our undocumented citizens on practical issues such as securing driving licences, accessing free legal advice and securing healthcare.

Last week, during my St. Patrick's Day visit to New York and Massachusetts, I visited the New York Irish Center, Solace House in New York, as well as the Irish Pastoral Centre in Boston where I had the opportunity to hear first-hand about the vital services and support provided to our diaspora, including undocumented Irish citizens, by organisations which receive support from the Government's emigrant support programme. I also discussed ongoing efforts in Congress to secure legal immigration pathways with Congressman Richard Neal, whom I met at the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England, which is another emigrant support programme partner. Mr. Neal is co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Ireland and has been a steadfast advocate for the undocumented Irish in the US over the years.

In addition to participation in the traditional elements of St. Patrick's Day celebrations in New York and Boston, I had numerous business and community engagements, as well as meetings with interlocutors at city, state and governor level. It was a fairly packed schedule. I will not go through the list of all those I met but I can forward it to the Deputy.

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