Labhrás Ó Murchú (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

St. Patrick's Day is fast approaching and Ministers and other Government representatives will be travelling to various parts of the world. It is a reminder of how the Irish people have travelled around the world and the contribution they have made to their adopted countries. St. Patrick's Day is a time for celebration and The Gathering will be central to this year's festivities.

However, one group of people will not be able to return to Ireland even though they dearly wish to do so. I refer to the undocumented Irish in America. If they come to Ireland they are in grave danger of being unable to return to America. They are living in a no-man's land. They are part of the Irish nation but they must be suffering. I know of one case involving an individual from County Tipperary who married an American girl. The couple returned for a holiday but, unfortunately, he was not allowed to return to America, and she had to return on her own. The Taoiseach has indicated that he will be raising this question at the highest level and President Obama has gone on record as favouring legislation to resolve the issue. I hope we succeed on this occasion. There are hundreds of thousands of undocumented Irish, and their numbers are increasing by 400 or more per day as people emigrate from Ireland. A considerable number of members of the Irish nation are in America but they are not recognised. I hope that anybody who has an influence not only in political circles but also in business and organisational circles will raise the issue. We should treat it as a matter of urgency. Whoever walks down Fifth Avenue on St. Patrick's Day will be watched by people who are hiding their identities and faces. These people want to be Irish once again but they also want to be good to their adopted country. I hope this situation does not continue beyond another year because it is very worrying.