Mark Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask that the Leader provide time for a debate on the undocumented Irish, which issue I have previously raised in the context of the current Bill going through the US Senate which will assist the 50,000 undocumented Irish citizens living in the United States. I ask that the Minister for Foreign Affairs be invited to the House to give us an update on what his Department is doing to ensure Irish people living in the shadows in the US are fully legalised. It will be a lengthy process. However, we must ensure that all Irish people living in the US who are currently undocumented are looked after. There is also provision in the US Bill for the issuance of 10,500 visas per year to Irish citizens. It is a particularly unique section of the Bill, which gives Irish citizens here a right to apply for visas to work in the US, which visas can be renewed.