Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)

I fully concur with Senator Leyden's comments about Irish people of illegal status in the United States. We should play a part in assisting up to 30,000 such people. Given the large number of Irish Americans, we should use every lobby to get these people legitimised.

I agree with Senator Bradford's call for support for the Irish in Britain. There has been considerable discrimination over many decades against the Irish in Britain both from the establishment and as a result of the general culture in certain parts of Britain. On several occasions I have heard Senator Mooney raise this issue, which has existed for some time. We should ensure that a concerted effort is made by the Government to assist people who find themselves severely disadvantaged in those areas and this House should give its full backing to some voluntary or State supported initiative to address the issue.