Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 386: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, while in Washington DC for St. Patrick's Day, he discussed the Kennedy-McCain bill with President Bush; his views on whether President Bush should give some degree of leniency to the Irish emigrants in the US; if he will pursue this matter with President Bush; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10734/06]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 392: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the actions which have been taken to support the Kennedy-McCain initiative or other measures towards regularising the position of undocumented Irish immigrants in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10565/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 392 together.

The Government attaches the highest priority to the issue of the undocumented Irish in the United States, and actively makes known our concern in all contacts with US political leaders. Most recently, the issue was discussed in the White House last week when the Taoiseach and I met President Bush on St. Patrick's Day. The President was appreciative of our concerns and again reiterated his support for a broad approach to the issue, involving reform as well as enforcement. The Taoiseach and I expressed appreciation for his understanding and emphasised the importance of addressing the situation in a pragmatic and sympathetic way, as for instance in the approach in the Kennedy-McCain bill.

The matter rests with the US Congress. The debate there is marked by differing approaches and strongly held opinions. It is clear that achieving the necessary compromise remains a formidable challenge. In all our meetings, including with the President and with Congressional figures, the Taoiseach and I made known the Government's strong support for the inclusion of the key elements of the Kennedy-McCain bill in any final compromise legislation. We conveyed our appreciation and support directly to Senators Kennedy and McCain. Many of our friends on Capitol Hill, including these two Senators, greatly appreciated the all-party Oireachtas motions in support of the Kennedy-McCain bill.

The Taoiseach and I also had a valuable meeting with Niall O'Dowd and Grant Lally of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, ILIR. I strongly commend the work of the ILIR organisation, which has had a significant impact on the immigration debate in Washington and elsewhere in the US, and whose work I have been very pleased to support financially. While our primary focus at present is on the proposals before the US Congress, the Deputies can be assured that, as the outcome of the congressional debate becomes clearer over the next few weeks, the situation will be actively reviewed to see what, if any, revision to our strategy and approach may be required.