Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 113: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the establishment of a new organisation (details supplied) whose aim is to regularise the position of undocumented Irish in the United States; his plans to meet the said organisation on his next trip to the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6803/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I warmly welcome the establishment of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform. It provides the Irish in the US with a powerful tool to give clear expression to their views on immigration reform. I hope to meet representatives from the organisation at the next available opportunity.

The Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, ILIR, was established in New York last December. It is mobilising grassroots support within the Irish community across the United States in support of the pragmatic and sympathetic approach to immigration reform advocated by Senator Kennedy and Senator McCain. Its success in this regard is clear from the very well attended meetings it has arranged in New York, Philadelphia and Boston. Further meetings are being arranged to take place in New York and San Francisco, as well as in Washington DC. I am pleased to note that ILIR is working closely with existing Irish organisations in the Irish community such as the excellent network of Irish immigration centres and GAA clubs.

I commend the community spirit of Niall O'Dowd, Grant Lally and others involved in ILIR. I am delighted that Senator Kennedy has expressed his personal appreciation for their initiative in establishing this organisation. As a reflection of the Government's continuing commitment to supporting the undocumented, I was pleased to approve a grant of €30,000 towards ILIR's operational expenses. The Ambassador in Washington and our diplomatic representation in the US are maintaining very close contact with ILIR. In this way, we can ensure that our respective activities will complement each other in the critical period ahead.