John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that, on many occasions, undocumented Irish persons currently in the United States are not able to travel to Ireland to attend funerals for close family members; the negotiations his Department officials have had with President Bush and US Government officials to make changes in US immigration laws to grant amnesty to allow undocumented immigrants to legalise their status; when he will meet the Irish bishops to discuss this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9937/05]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 188: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has raised the plight of Irish citizens who are illegally resident in the United States with US authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9694/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 187 and 188 together.

The circumstances of undocumented Irish people in the United States are raised on an on-going basis in our bilateral contacts with US political leaders. Most recently, the issue was raised when the Taoiseach and I met President Bush on St. Patrick's Day. During our meeting, the President re-affirmed his commitment to work with Congress on immigration reform, now that a new Congress was in place. The Taoiseach and I very much welcomed this commitment and emphasised the importance of addressing the situation in a positive and sympathetic way.

I would also like to pay a warm tribute to the work of the Irish episcopal commission for emigrants for the advice and support it gives to our communities overseas. The Irish abroad unit of the Department maintains very close contact with the director of the commission and I am also in contact with its chairman, his Lordship, Bishop Séamus Hegarty.

The Deputies can be assured that the issues of our undocumented citizens and immigration reform have the highest priority for the Government and, reflecting this, for the embassy in Washington and our four consulates general in the United States.