Noel Treacy (Galway East, Fianna Fail)

I have listened with interest and appreciation to the contributions made by all Senators. The quality of the debate is the best possible indication of the concern which Members have for our undocumented citizens in the United States. I am sure many in this House have received representations from family members in their constituencies about relatives in the US. As a public representative from the west, from where a substantial proportion of the undocumented come, I am acutely aware of the difficulties for those concerned and I have dealt with many cases in the past. The debate also reflects the genuine affection our people feel for the United States of America. This in part is a reflection of the tradition of westward emigration, which saw in the US a home for successive generations of Irish people. This tradition survives to some degree, although we no longer have involuntary emigration.

As the Minister stated earlier, the Kennedy-McCain Bill represents a comprehensive and bipartisan approach to reforming the immigration process and to resolving the issue of the undocumented. The issue, of course, is not simply one of numbers. Every individual and family has a story with its own difficulties and heartaches. The draft Bill seeks to address all of these in a sympathetic and humane fashion. The architects, who include not just the two leaders but also members of both parties in the US Congress, are to be warmly commended. It will be extremely encouraging for them to know they have the support and the deep appreciation of this House as they move the Bill forward.

As we have, this Bill is only one of a number at present before the US Congress. The others include a significant text introduced last July by Senators Kyl and Cornyn. We welcome all engagement on this political issue and recognise that different approaches are to be expected. One way in which the Kennedy-McCain Bill differs from that tabled by Senators Kyl and Cornyn is that it provides for a path to permanent residency status. This is of critical importance to our community.

It is still too early to say how the debate within Congress will develop in the period ahead. What is clear is that the US Administration and Congress have moved the immigration issue significantly up the priority scale and are keen to advance the debate. This is a major step forward. The role of President Bush may well be crucial in determining the final form the legislation will take. The reality is that the total number of the undocumented is estimated to be in the order of 10 million, of whom Irish people are but a small segment. Devising legislation that will address numbers of this magnitude in a sympathetic and comprehensive manner, while also taking into account the security dimension, poses a particular challenge. If I sound a note of caution, it is merely a recognition of the depth of the challenge inherent in this sensitive issue.

Senators may rest assured that the Government will continue to work intensively, at direct political level and through active lobbying by the ambassador and the embassy, to achieve the best possible outcome for our undocumented citizens. In the light of this debate we will now be in the enhanced position on Capitol Hill of having the full and enthusiastic backing of this House for the Kennedy-McCain Bill and for a new beginning for our undocumented in the United States.

I pay tribute to all of our emigrants in all parts of the world. I have had the honour of meeting and addressing many of our emigrants in all five continents over the years. They are all unofficial ambassadors of this country and have ensured a universal respect for Ireland in all parts of the world. This debate confirms the respect of Senators for these people. We must all continue to support them, when and where necessary, as their concerns, priorities and problems are similar to those of us fortunate enough to have remained on the island of Ireland.