Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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10. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he plans discussions with the authorities in the United States of America given the ongoing concerns at the difficulties the undocumented Irish face and the concerns of their families at home; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11904/16]

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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Achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US and agreement on a facility for future legal migration between Ireland and the US remains a priority for the new Government. Our embassy in Washington and consulates elsewhere in the US are active in advocating immigration reform and the issue is also regularly addressed in high-level political contacts between Ireland and the US Government.

While in Washington for St. Patrick's Day, the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade met President Obama, Vice President Biden, House Speaker Ryan, Senator Charles Schumer and other key Congressional contacts from both sides of the aisle. During these meetings, they emphasised the plight of the undocumented Irish in the US and encouraged both Houses of Congress to work on a bipartisan basis towards a comprehensive package of immigration reform measures.

In his speech at the House Speaker's lunch at Capitol Hill, the Taoiseach addressed the issues of immigration reform and urged Republicans and Democrats to work together to address the concerns of the undocumented Irish in the US. The Taoiseach also spoke of the need for improved legal migration channels for those Irish people who wish to live, work and develop their skills in the US for a time and emphasised the exceptional contribution made by Irish people to American society over the course of centuries of shared history.

Our embassy in Washington continues to closely monitor the progress of the judicial case on President Obama's executive actions on immigration reform. This case, which was brought by a coalition of US states seeking an injunction against the executive action, has now reached the US Supreme Court and it is expected that the court will declare its decision next month. If the appeal succeeds and the measure is implemented, the executive action could benefit a significant number of our citizens by lifting the threat of deportation and allowing those undocumented immigrants who have been in the US for more than five years and who have children who are US citizens or legal permanent residents to work and travel more freely within the United States.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

The new Government, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our embassy in Washington will continue to actively pursue all opportunities to advance immigration reform that would be of benefit to our citizens with the US Administration, both sides of the aisle in Congress and the US Embassy in Ireland.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Keeping the issue of the undocumented Irish at the top of the agenda is a priority for me and my party. Vice President Biden will be visiting this country shortly and every opportunity should be taken to raise the plight of the undocumented Irish, which is put at 50,000, although I think the number is significantly higher. We are all aware of what living undocumented means for a person and their family in terms of the restriction of travel and the unlawful presence bars introduced by US. A person who is regarded as having overstayed and who has left the US can be barred from returning for a period of between three and ten years. These elements need to be worked on. I ask the Government to outline a programme with regarding to a schedule of meetings. The St. Patrick's Day meetings and St. Patrick's week are important but from feedback I have received in the past, such engagement needs to be a constant.

I ask the Minister to bear that in mind and to use the visit of Vice President Biden to raise this matter again.

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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I agree entirely that it is not good enough on the big days. There are lots of opportunities outside that. On Friday, I met with Kevin Cullen from The Boston Globe. We have to look at a way of keeping up that engagement and keeping it consistent. There are many things outside our control such as the presidential election that is coming up. There is a loud debate on emigration, particularly on the Republican side, of which we are all aware. In the meantime, we can use our natural network with the United States and with people outside the Irish gene pool, such as Republican Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, who introduced a Bill. We have advocates in people who are working in a very sensible way. While initially there was a wholehearted welcome of President Obama's executive action, there were weaknesses in it for many people. I am thinking of one man from my county who has no children so some people were left out.

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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This is something I will return to on a regular basis. It appears that the Obama plan is dead. Even if the federal courts rule on it shortly, it will still require legislation in Congress. There will be a presidential election in November and there will be a change of president at that stage. I ask the Department to look seriously at improving reciprocal arrangements for US citizens coming to Ireland. We may have to be selfish about this and not pool our Irish citizens in with other undocumented citizens from other nationalities. We should look at improving visa arrangements for US citizens coming and working in Ireland because there are difficulties there from time to time. We should look at a reciprocal arrangement and what we can give. We are a big trading partner of the US, but it works both ways. We are its tenth biggest trading partner in terms of Irish investment in the US so it is not us coming cap in hand. I ask the Minister to keep it on the agenda and look at improved reciprocal arrangements and a bilateral deal where possible.

Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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It works between America and Australia with the E3 visa so it is a sensible suggestion. There are cases where American citizens are having challenges getting visas in this country. We have to be constructive and sensible about it. There are things we can do on this side of the pond; it is not just a one way street. I look forward to working with the Deputy on it. There are many people from different parties that have a very strong interest in this issue. It affects us all. There are people in other constituencies who have children in America who cannot come home and are worried about attending potential funerals or a wedding and they know they cannot be part of it. We all know the difficulty.