Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 71: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, during his visit to the US for St. Patrick's Day, he had an opportunity of discussing the plight of the undocumented Irish with politicians there; the people he had discussions with; his views on the prospects of the McCain-Kennedy Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13063/06]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the ongoing contact between his Department and the US Administration with regard to the McCain-Kennedy legislative proposals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13009/06]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the contacts he had with Irish emigrant groups in the United States over the St. Patrick's Day period; if he has raised with US political leaders proposed new anti-immigration legislation that would have potentially disastrous consequences for tens of thousands of undocumented Irish living in America; the response he received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10196/06]

Joe Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position in the United States with regard to the various legislative proposals being considered in relation to the regularisation of illegal immigrants in that country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13121/06]

Shane McEntee (Meath, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the latest developments in Ireland's efforts to assist the undocumented Irish in the US; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13028/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 291: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he can foresee a breakthrough in discussions with the US authorities in the matter of an amnesty for the undocumented Irish in the US; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13460/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 292: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the extent of his discussions with the US authorities in the matter of the regularisation of the undocumented Irish in the US; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13461/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 71, 91, 104, 105, 108, 291 and 292 together.

The Government attaches the highest priority to the welfare of the undocumented Irish in the United States and takes every opportunity in contacts with US political leaders to emphasise the importance of addressing the matter in a constructive and sympathetic manner.

As Deputies will be aware, the debate in the US on immigration reform has entered a critical phase. The St. Patrick's Day period provided the Government with a particularly timely opportunity to make known our views on this matter and, in particular, our strong support for the approach favoured by Senators Kennedy and McCain. It was an opportunity that we availed of to the full in our meetings with President Bush, his Administration and key figures on Capitol Hill.

President Bush was appreciative of our position and he helpfully reiterated to us his support for a broad approach that involves reform as well as enforcement. This is an approach which he subsequently again underlined in speeches later in the month.

The Taoiseach and I also had a series of valuable meetings with Members of Congress including Senators Kennedy and McCain, as well as Senators Biden, Clinton, Dodd and Leahy and Congressman Jim Walsh and members of the Friends of Ireland Group. In each of these meetings we gave particular prominence to our views on the issue of the undocumented Irish and the need to address the situation.

In addition, the Taoiseach and I had important discussions with Niall O'Dowd and Grant Lally of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, ILIR. I commend the work of the ILIR which has had a significant impact on the debate in Washington and elsewhere in the US, and whose work I have been very pleased to support financially. We agreed to remain in close contact as the legislative process in Washington moves forward.

Since our St. Patrick's Day visit, a significant and positive development has been the passage through the Senate Judiciary Committee of a comprehensive immigration reform bill which includes the core elements of the approach favoured by Senators Kennedy and McCain. This is a development which I have warmly welcomed. However, it remains clear that reaching consensus on this sensitive and divisive issue presents US legislators with a very formidable challenge. Consideration of this complex matter has now moved to the floor of the full Senate where it is currently being debated. I can assure the Deputies that the Government will continue to monitor the ongoing debate very closely and to actively convey to all sides our strong support for the regularisation of the status of the undocumented Irish in the US. In this regard, I also warmly welcome last week's visit to Washington of the Chairman and members of the Joint Foreign Affairs Committee.