Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the consequences for out-of-status Irish in the US by the draft Kennedy Bill in regard to immigration. [10589/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The St. Patrick's Day period provided the Taoiseach and me with a particularly valuable and timely opportunity to convey our views on this issue to key figures on Capitol Hill and in the US Administration, including President Bush.

During our visit, we had a detailed discussion on the way ahead with Senator Kennedy, and expressed deep appreciation for his continued strong leadership on this issue. He told us he is encouraging members of the Senate Judiciary Committee to revisit the positive bipartisan Bill passed by that committee last year during the life of the previous Congress. This was a Bill that included key elements of the Kennedy-McCain approach. If enacted, it would transform the quality of life for undocumented Irish people in the US. Senator Kennedy considers this approach is the most likely to secure the bipartisan support required.

The Taoiseach and I also emphasised the high priority we attach to this issue in our meetings with President Bush, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid, Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Patrick Leahy, Senator Clinton and the House of Representatives Friends of Ireland Group. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture and Food also had a useful meeting with the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform in New York last week.

We were most encouraged by Speaker Pelosi's firm declaration at the American Ireland Fund Dinner on 14 March that she will work hard to ensure a comprehensive immigration reform Bill is passed in 2007. This very positive statement was repeated to us in our private meeting with her and was warmly welcomed as a significant development by the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. President Bush also reiterated to us his continued support for a comprehensive solution to the problems facing the US immigration system. He fully appreciates the Irish dimension to the issue and assured us of his intention to work with Congress to find a bipartisan solution in the critical period ahead.

At the same time, it is clear that securing the necessary bipartisan consensus on this complex and divisive matter remains a considerable challenge. There is currently a high degree of awareness on Capitol Hill of the Irish dimension to the undocumented issue. Our ambassador in Washington is extremely active in highlighting our concerns, and I look forward to a further intensification of the Government's efforts on behalf of the undocumented.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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We all wish to see the position of the undocumented Irish advanced and restored to some element of security. However, some confusion arises from the most recent statements. For example, the statement by Speaker Pelosi, which the Minister quoted, referred to a "comprehensive immigration Bill". Such a Bill would address the issue of the 12 million out-of-status people in the United States, of which the Irish are a part. The Taoiseach made many speeches in which he suggested one had to concentrate on what was available. It was made very clear to those of us who visited Washington more than once in recent years that a bilateral deal is not on offer. Is the Taoiseach speaking about a bilateral deal to specifically address Irish emigrants or is he speaking about a reference to the Irish within the general legislation to which Speaker Pelosi alluded?

It is my understanding the Kennedy-McCain proposals, which were withdrawn, also referred to a general approach. Most of the people with whom we are dealing, who are writing to us from Washington, are suggesting, for example, that sometimes the legislation is combined with a border security proposal. Where does the bilateral prospect arise or is it just a flight of fantasy?

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's position is we wish to have a comprehensive Bill put forward because that will deal with this issue once and for all. Obviously, other options are being considered and have been considered over the past two and a half years. We have to take cognisance of the fact there are tactics involved. People must be acutely aware that until the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform organisation was formed, those on Capitol Hill did not know this was an Irish problem; they thought it was essentially a Mexican problem. Thankfully, now there is an Irish element to the issue. Suggestions have been made on all sides of the House that we should opt for a bilateral agreement. The problem with such an agreement is it would, in effect, break the unity that exists between all of the representatives of the various nationalities which are in difficulties in this respect.

The core issues affecting Irish people are practical ones relating to the ability to travel back and forth and also to work openly in the US economy. That is something to which the Taoiseach referred because it had been raised with him in his meetings with the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. Speaker Pelosi gave a very strong message, as did President Bush. Deputy Higgins referred to a possible integration of security and border legislation and the immigration issue. President Bush informed us that all such legislation has already been put in place. As he indicated, the only outstanding issue is that of the approximately 12 million people who are in a twilight position in the United States.

The Irish are a relatively small proportion of that figure but they are an important element because of the type of influence Irish America has in the US. This was evident from the number of Senators and Congressmen and Congresswomen who lined up to meet with us in order to give their views on this issue. Senator Kennedy indicated he hoped the starting point would be the previous Bill which emerged from the Senate. We were given an indication by others, including Nancy Pelosi, that it was the starting point. My officials will work with the ILIR and all of the other NGOs which are interested in this area, in addition to the Congressmen and Congresswomen on Capitol Hill in order to bring this forward. I am hopeful there will be moves before the middle of the year to bring the Bill back into the Senate and that it could be brought further.

As a result of the political change following the mid-term elections in the United States in November 2006, people interested in this issue in Ireland and elsewhere considered we were home-free, and that there would be a change of attitude and direction on the immigration reform issue. I pointed out at a previous Question Time that it is not a simple matter. There are some even in the Democratic Party who have grave reservations when it comes to moving on a comprehensive Bill that would deal with all this. Our sights are high, but we are obviously open to other suggestions in the event of an overall package not being available so that we can secure the best deal for our people.