Mary Henry (Independent)

I am glad the Minister has given extra money to the various organisations that deal with emigrants because, like Senator Mooney, I believe there will be significant opposition to the Kennedy-McCain Bill and the other items of legislation aimed at helping undocumented people in the United States. It is important to remember that the legislation does not solely relate to undocumented Irish people. In fact, they are a very small part of what is seen in the United States as a most serious problem. One need only look at the physical changes made on Capitol Hill in terms of the bunkers built there to realise the change in the mentality that has taken place in the United States since the attacks on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre.

The terrorist attacks were particularly terrible for a people who promote globalisation that leads to a greater movement of not just capital but also labour. Every country must be in a position to close its borders, particularly in order to exclude people with diseases and so forth. This shock has been most terrible for the United States. I foresee serious problems in bringing forward the Bill.

While I support what the Minister is trying to do, I hope that, in the context of what we are asking the United States to do, he will reciprocate in terms of immigrants to this country——