Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 27: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had any recent contact with his US counterpart with regard to new proposals for the regularisation of citizenship for persons resident illegally in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13482/05]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 77: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions he has had with the US authorities regarding the position of Irish persons living illegally in the United States; if his attention has been drawn to the suggestion made by the US Ambassador to Ireland, Mr. James Kenny, at a recent meeting of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs that Irish persons might secure the right to stay in the US by paying a fine; if he has sought further details of this proposal for the US authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13558/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 136: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent to which his attention has been drawn to the number and circumstances of undocumented Irish people currently in the United States; his proposals to engage with the US authorities with a view to reaching an acceptable or amicable arrangement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13865/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the degree to which he has had discussions with the US authorities with a view to regularisation of undocumented Irish in the US; if progress will be reported regarding the possibility of an amnesty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13866/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 77, 136 and 137 together.

The number of Irish people who may be resident in the United States without the appropriate authorisation is difficult to estimate. While the US authorities have estimated that the number may have declined to 3,000 in the year 2000, many of the organisations working on the ground with our emigrants would regard this figure as a low estimate.

The circumstances of undocumented Irish people in the US are raised on an ongoing basis in our bilateral contacts with U.S. 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 reaffirmed his commitment to work with Congress on immigration reform. The Taoiseach and I very much welcomed this commitment and emphasised the importance of addressing the situation in a positive and sympathetic way.

My attention has been drawn to the media report on the meeting of the US Ambassador to Ireland with the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs on 2 March as well as to the radio interview given by the ambassador on 3 March. The ambassador pointed out in his radio remarks that the issue of immigration reform was one singled out by President Bush for action. He was careful to stress that, as any proposals for immigration reform will have to be considered in detail by the US House of Representatives and Senate and the details of any immigration reform bill will not be known until this legislative process is complete, it would be premature to go into any specifics at this stage. I am not aware that any specific legislative proposal involving payment of a fine has been circulated in the US Congress.

Our ambassador and officials in the embassy in Washington continue to monitor closely the debate on immigration reform. The Deputies can be assured that the issues of our undocumented citizens and immigration reform have the highest priority for the Government. Through the ongoing efforts of our embassy and the contacts of the Taoiseach, myself and Cabinet colleagues with political leaders in the US, we will continue to encourage and support all measures that benefit Irish citizens.