Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has held recent meetings with the Ambassador of the United States; the discussions he has had; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41929/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have had the opportunity to meet with ambassador Dan Rooney on several occasions since his appointment by President Obama as the United States ambassador to Ireland. As Deputies will be aware, ambassador Rooney is a long time friend of Ireland and his appointment as ambassador was widely welcomed by the Deputies of this House.

I was present when ambassador Rooney presented his credentials to President Mary McAleese at Áras an Uachtaráin on http://www.president.ie/3 July 2009. He subsequently paid me a courtesy call on 28 July and we had the opportunity to discuss substantively his new role as ambassador to Ireland and the importance of our bilateral relationship. We spoke about a number of key areas of interest including ongoing support for the peace process, the importance of continued North-South co-operation, the prospects for comprehensive immigration reform, the current economic situation, taxation issues and the implementation of the recommendations contained in the US-Ireland Strategic Review.

I had the opportunity to meet again with ambassador Rooney following the appointment by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of Declan Kelly as the United States Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland. I met with Declan Kelly and ambassador Rooney in Dublin on 17 September where we discussed, in particular, the US role in developing North-South economic co-operation and the scope for real innovation and co-operation in the context of the all-island economy.

Ambassador Rooney also attended the Global Irish Economic Forum from 18 to 20 September where, on the margins of that event, we had the opportunity to discuss the opportunities which exist to further develop the links between Ireland and the US and the importance of harnessing the experience and expertise of our diaspora. My most recent meeting with ambassador Rooney was in Farmleigh on 11 October on the occasion of the visit of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to Dublin.

The US Ireland relationship remains a key priority for the Government. As we continue to develop this relationship, particularly in the context of implementing the recommendations of both the US-Ireland Strategic Review and the Global Irish Economic Forum, I will continue to meet regularly with ambassador Rooney on these issues.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Did the Minister have substantive discussions on the position of the out of status Irish in the United States? With regard to the conclusions of the Farmleigh conference, which I attended, has there been a follow through on the proposals for a space at Silicon Valley for young Irish entrepreneurs? In addition, there is the issue of niche marketing and identifying the diaspora across different parts of the United States. Is it proposed to publish an update on the contacts that were made in regard to the Farmleigh conclusions?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We discussed the undocumented Irish with ambassador Rooney. I visited the United States subsequently where I had extensive consultations with senators and congressmen on the Hill on this issue. I also met with ILIR, the immigration reform movement, in New York and we had substantive and good discussions on that issue, the critical point being timing, building a consensus across party lines and how the political situation would unfold. The consensus was that it would be early spring before there would be a significant move politically on that issue. We got a positive response to our position, not just in terms of the wider issue of the undocumented but also the bilateral mechanism to be developed for the future - an E3 visa type approach - that could be combined to any solution to the overall undocumented question. It is fair to say we have pressed all the right buttons politically on the Hill.

On the Farmleigh conference, we are pursuing proactively the range of recommendations that emanated from that gathering. An interdepartmental committee has been established with the Secretary to the Government, Dermot McCarthy, chairing that to systematically go through every recommendation across the system to bring them to fruition. In terms of the Silicon Valley innovation centre, which is a proposal developed by the Irish technology leadership group, we will be pursuing that under the aegis of my Department. We have been in consultations with Enterprise Ireland and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and are awaiting a further firm proposal on that.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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A number of other Deputies are offering.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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If I may say that a graduate placement programme-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Can I explain to the Minister that under the Standing Order the Minister has one minute to reply? He is on his fourth.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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You are so tolerant.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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It is true, but I would like to facilitate other Deputies ask questions as well.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Much good work has been done on the Gateway Ireland portal. We are in the position of establishing a formal network of those who attended Farmleigh and those who did not, and also the graduate placement programme-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I will have to call another Deputy.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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You are welcome, Minister.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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While we are on the subject of timing, the Minister said the earliest legislation would be initiated in Congress is early spring. The Minister said he was pressing all the right buttons politically. He has been pressing those buttons for the past five years when it comes to the undocumented in the US. It is clear to me, as we continually get repeat responses, that effectively this Government has abandoned stand-alone legislation with regard to dealing with the issue of the undocumented in the US. That is effectively-----

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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A question, Deputy.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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I will ask it. Effectively, is that not the Minister's response?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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That is crass. It is without substance.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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They are the Minister's words.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is unfortunate that the Deputy would take that tack knowing that it is not the truth.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Deputy Breen.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Is it the case that the Minister is pursuing stand alone legislation with regard to the undocumented?

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Deputy Deasy will not ignore the Chair. I have called Deputy Breen.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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The Minister said it is crass.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy will resume his seat.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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He should explain himself in regard to that.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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No. Deputy Deasy is not in charge of the House.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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What I said is true, and he knows it.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Deputy will resume his seat or leave the House.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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In regard to the full pre-custom clearance facility in Shannon which ambassador Rooney opened in July, did the Minister have discussions with the ambassador on how that facility is proceeding? I understand some problems have arisen with having the full facilities in place, particularly in regard to general aviation. The Minister might clarify that because it is the first facility outside of Europe. Has he had some discussions with the ambassador on that?

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Not specifically on the issues he has just raised. We had broader discussions on the facilitation of the agreement and the Minister for Transport, Deputy Dempsey, would have taken the lead role in the negotiation of that. I was in Shannon recently and local people there seemed to be happy with what was put in place. I will now take up the fact that there are teething issues with it but the Minister, Deputy Dempsey, has taken the lead on that one. We have had a consultative role in it.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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The Minister might come back to me on that. I understand it is not operating to its potential, particularly in one area.

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I will come back to the Deputy on that and discuss it with him.