Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, for taking this matter on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

I was very disappointed to read an article on Monday, 24 January in The Irish Timesabout the need for stronger advocacy in Washington on Irish-American issues and for Irish people living and working in the USA. The article details a statement issued by the Ancient Order of Hibernians, one of the largest Irish organisations outside of Ireland. This feeling is shared by most of the Irish community living in the USA, especially the undocumented who feel that they have been forgotten about by this Government. The Irish-American group has appointed a former Fine Gael Deputy, Mr. John Deasy, as its head of government affairs. He took a swipe at the Department of Foreign Affairs in the same article, saying: "It’s fair to say the view in America is that the new management team need to get the department back to basics." That is a damning quote from a former Fine Gael Deputy who is now working in the USA.

Having lived and worked in Boston for many years, I know only too well the difficulties Irish people in the USA face, especially the undocumented. This time last year I raised the issue of undocumented Irish people in the USA with the Taoiseach and asked him to raise their plight with newly-elected President Biden. Has the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Taoiseach raised this issue with the American Administration? Covid has meant that the last two years were especially difficult for the undocumented. Those who were not working would not have had any income. Our people in the USA are hard working. They contribute to society and have made their lives over there. Many have lost loved ones in Ireland including mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters but they could not come home because of the fear of not getting back into the US, which is now their home. Has any progress been made on establishing an E3 visa agreement between Ireland and the USA?

If we are to be true to Bunreacht na hÉireann and the Irish nation at home and abroad, we must give the diaspora a say in electing a President for this nation, as promised.

What supports are in place for returning emigrants in terms of access to housing, schools and so on?

In a few weeks, Ministers and the Taoiseach will be heading to Washington for St. Patrick's Day. I urge the Government to do all in its power to raise with President Biden the issue of the thousands of undocumented Irish in the USA. We cannot have our people in the USA saying that we in Ireland do not care about them.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Guirke for raising this issue, which I am addressing on behalf of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney.

Ireland's relationship with the United States of America has been of critical importance for successive Governments and continues to be a major priority for the current Government as set out in our programme for Government. The key priorities and objectives for this unique relationship are set out in the Government's United States and Canada Strategy 2019-2025. The actions are categorised around the five pillars that underpin Ireland's overall foreign policy, namely our people, our values, our place in Europe, our prosperity and our influence.

The strengthening of our bilateral political relations with the USA is of critical importance to this State. We have a broad range of priorities in our relations with the USA, including high level political engagement, in particular in support of the peace process in Northern Ireland; the promotion of trade, investment and job creation; and support for our citizens and the broader Irish-American diaspora.

There is ongoing advocacy and engagement at every level with the US Administration and political leaders across the USA. Our Embassy in Washington DC takes a leading role in advocating for the most important and critical issues facing our country and our citizens, including the undocumented Irish who are seeking to regularise their status.

The scope for high-level meetings at senior political level has been limited due to the impact of Covid. The return this year of high-level visits will strengthen our ability to maintain and further develop the strong political relationships, particularly as we mitigate the impact of Brexit on this island. It will also allow us to continue our work to build new networks across the US, including engaging with a new generation of political leaders in the US at the federal and state level.

Ireland works closely with the United States to support and defend the mutual benefits of a stable, open and ambitious economic relationship. This relationship underpins an environment that supports the provision of more than 110,000 direct jobs by Irish companies across all 50 US states, mirrored by more than 800 US companies operating in Ireland, employing 180,000 in this State. That is up from 100,000 a decade ago. Working closely with our State agencies, in particular Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, we have supported the developed of this highly mutually beneficial economic environment.

The strength of the bilateral relationship is largely rooted in the many links between Irish and American people. Irish America is of enormous importance to Ireland, including those who are Irish-born, those who claim Irish ancestry and those with a strong affinity for Ireland. Our Government launched a new diaspora strategy in 2020, which includes a focus on engaging with the new generation of Irish diaspora in the US and strengthening our co-operation and support of Irish citizens and Irish-Americans in the US. Through our embassy in Washington DC, as well as across our seven consulates general across the US, we work closely with Irish community organisations in support of the needs of Irish citizens. In response to the pandemic, a dedicated Covid-19 response fund for Irish communities abroad was set up to help these organisations meet the needs of those who are particularly vulnerable. In 2021, over €4.22 million was provided to diaspora organisations in the US.

The influence of Ireland in the US, through our history and culture, is remarkable. Under our current strategy, we have worked closely with Culture Ireland to streamline the long-standing and deep cultural links between our two countries, as evidenced by the appointment of dedicated cultural officers based in our consulates in New York and Los Angeles. Under the US-Canada strategy, we have reinforced our network of diplomatic missions across the US, including opening a new consulate general in Los Angeles in 2018 and the opening in summer 2022 of a new consulate general in Miami.

Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her answer. She stated that the influence of Ireland in the United States is remarkable. However, that influence does not seem to be used as best we can. That is the way Irish people overseas look at it. I know Covid has had a serious impact on the last two years but we need to get these talks with the American Administration up and running, especially about the undocumented. Some have been there for 20 or 30 years and have not been able to come home to their family members. That is not fair. Even the former Fine Gael Deputy, John Deasy, says the Government is not doing enough, which is a damning indictment of this Government.

We will never have a better chance to make progress on Irish issues, especially the undocumented, than now, with an Irish-American President and Democrats controlling the Senate and the House of Representatives. We need to do more to help. We cannot just talk about it. President Biden's proposed US Citizenship Act of 2021 shows that immigration issues are a key priority for his Administration. The Irish Government must keep raising this at every opportunity and explore all available options.

I take this opportunity to thank the people and organisations that help the Irish diaspora. Organisations like the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust are there to help bereaved families in tragic circumstances, the GAA helps Irish people all over the world, and Irish people abroad themselves are great when fundraisers are being run or if anything is needed when people are in trouble. When going to Washington on St. Patrick's Day with a bowl of shamrock, I ask the Minister of State not to forget the undocumented Irish.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I doubt it will be me going with the bowl of shamrock. The Department of Foreign Affairs has established Ireland houses in New York, Austin and San Francisco to allow for an impressive Team Ireland footprint. Several Irish State agencies, together with a consulate, can work together to maximise impact in a particular location. Plans are under way to open more Ireland houses in other US locations. The Deputy referred to the former Deputy, John Deasy, a colleague of mine from Waterford. I did not see the article but in fairness the last two years have been very challenging with Covid. America has had serious issues with Covid, as have we. Another Waterford man, Dan Mulhall, is the Irish ambassador to America. He is doing Trojan work and promotes Ireland constantly. Even just on his Twitter feed, he is constantly advocating for the Irish in America every single day.

Our embassy in Washington DC is actively engaged across the political spectrum in the US, meeting regularly with Members of the House of Representatives and the Senate on a bipartisan basis. The efforts of the embassy have been instrumental in ensuring consistent priority and support at the highest political level to protect peace on the island. The embassy also continues to work towards finding innovative solutions and immigration pathways to address the challenges faced by the undocumented Irish in the US. We have maintained strong relations with the US at every level over the past two challenging years. We must continue to prioritise our strong transatlantic connections, be they in business, academia, tourism or in maintaining family connections, as we emerge from the impact of the pandemic. I take the Deputy's point that this is a great opportunity as we move out of Covid and we will be able to continue those visits to America to support the undocumented.

Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

These issues have been going on much longer than two years and they have not been addressed.

Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I know.