Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding US legislation designed to be of assistance to undocumented Irish in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39192/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 100: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had recent discussions with his US counterpart with reference to the resolution of issues affecting undocumented Irish in the US; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39209/05]

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 117: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in view of his visit to the United States in November 2005 and his letter to Representatives in advance of this visit, the position regarding the visit and in particular the progress of the two principal bills, namely Kennedy/McCain and Kyl/Cornyn, being considered in the United States legislature; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39289/05]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress which has been made on the legislative process with regard to the undocumented Irish in the United States following his recent visit to America; the persons he met regarding this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39719/05]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 220: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has made recent overtures to the US authorities with a view to resolution of the problem of undocumented Irish in the US; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39617/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 100, 117, 187 and 220 together.

As Deputies are aware, including from recent debates and information that I have circulated to all Members of the Oireachtas, the legislative debate in Washington D.C. has entered a critical phase. Various proposals are under consideration at present, of which the bills sponsored by Senators Kennedy and McCain and by Senators Kyl and Cornyn remain the most comprehensive and significant politically. The approach put forward by Senators Kennedy and McCain is particularly attractive as it would offer the undocumented a path to permanent residency.

As I outlined in the information note that I circulated to Members of the House last month, the legislative situation is fluid and members of Congress are slow to make predictions. Despite significant developments, achieving the necessary compromise on this issue remains a formidable challenge. For example, in recent days the Judiciary Committee of the House of Representatives passed a further bill which will shortly be debated on the House floor, perhaps as early as this week. This bill, which is one of over 50 draft immigration bills currently before Congress, focuses on measures to improve border security and enhance enforcement. It does not provide for measures that would allow the undocumented to regularise their status. I welcome the engagement of President Bush in this issue and, in particular, his strong assertion in recent comments in Arizona that dealing with immigration must involve reform as well as enforcement.

I have visited the United States twice in recent weeks. In all of my contacts in New York, Boston and Washington D.C., including with Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, and former President Clinton, I have briefed my interlocutors on the importance which the Government attaches to addressing the situation in a positive and sympathetic way. In particular, I have made known our support, and the support of this House, for the approach favoured by Senators Kennedy and McCain.

When Senator Kennedy and I met recently in Washington D.C. we reviewed the overall prospects for US legislative reform. I was delighted to have the opportunity to express to him our deep appreciation for his exceptional efforts on this issue in Congress. Senator Kennedy, for his part, warmly welcomed the motions passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas in support of the legislative initiative which he, Senator McCain and others have introduced.

A significant development of note in recent weeks has been the establishment of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. This grassroots mobilisation of the Irish American community in support of the approach to immigration reform favoured by Senators Kennedy and McCain had its inaugural meeting on 9 December. I warmly welcome this timely action by the Irish community in the US and the House can be assured that the Government fully supports the aims of this group.