Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Finucane's point regarding the forthcoming discussions between the Taoiseach, as President of the European Council, and the American President. We must consider the undocumented Irish citizens in the United States to whom we have a responsibility. There could be 10,000 such people in the United States of America and we must be conscious of them. Those who will march against President Bush seem to have little regard for the effect their actions will have on undocumented Irish people who are residing unofficially in America. As Senator Finucane said, they cannot get home to attend a funeral, a wedding or to celebrate the birth of a niece or nephew. Yesterday, I referred to a mother in County Roscommon who has three daughters in America. She asked me to raise this issue in the House, so I am taking this opportunity to do so.

Will the Leader convey what I would like to think is a unanimous request by this House for President Bush to consider the position of undocumented Irish citizens in America? He will not decide on it tomorrow but I ask the Leader to arrange for such a debate next week. In that way, the House can formally request the American Government to make an arrangement similar to the Morrison visas for undocumented Irish citizens in the United States. We will be doing a great service to those people in making such a request to the American authorities. I do not expect any such decision from tomorrow's meeting, but the relationship between the Taoiseach and President Bush will continue to be cordial so the Taoiseach will be in a strong position to make such a request.

I have two brothers in America and many other relations, but I want to make the regularising of the undocumented Irish an election issue in the United States in November.