Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 89: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is satisfied that the latest legislative proposals discussed in the United States will deal adequately with the undocumented Irish in the United States; the representations he has made on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19747/06]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 102: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps being taken by the Government to support the Kennedy McCain immigration proposals in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19559/06]

Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 114: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position with regard to the regularisation of undocumented immigrants in the United States, with reference to President Bush's unprecedented step of addressing the US people on national television; the discussions which his Department has held with officials of the US administration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19717/06]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 126: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the recent contacts that he has had with his US counterpart with regard to the undocumented Irish in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19560/06]

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 132: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had any recent contact with his US counterpart with regard to proposals for the regularisation of citizenship for people resident illegally in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19581/06]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress in regard to discussions he may have had with the US authorities on the regularisation of undocumented Irish in the US; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20019/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 102, 114, 126, 132 and 224 together.

The welfare of the undocumented Irish in the United States continues to be a matter of the highest priority for the Government. In all of my dealings with contacts on Capitol Hill and in the US Administration, including with Secretary of State Rice, I emphasise our strong support for measures that would enable the undocumented to regularise their status and have open to them a path to permanent residency. As Deputies are aware, the legislative debate in the US is at a critical stage. In view of this, I am travelling again to Washington D.C. this week to meet with key legislators to emphasise directly the importance that we attach to an early resolution of this issue.

Over the St. Patrick's Day period, the Taoiseach and I availed fully of our valuable meetings with President Bush and Members of Congress to reiterate to them our views on this matter.

During our meeting with President Bush, the President assured us of his support for a comprehensive approach to immigration which advances reforms, as well as addresses enforcement issues. This is an approach which he endorsed strongly in a significant televised address on immigration on 15th May in which he called for concerted efforts to work towards consensus on this critical issue. I warmly welcome the President's personal engagement in this issue and, in particular, his view that most of those who are undocumented should be able to apply for citizenship once qualifying conditions are met.

The current stage of the legislative debate is that Senators are debating a compromise bill proposed by Senators Hagel and Martinez. This positive bill provides for measures that would enable the vast majority of the undocumented to regularise their status and have open to them a path to permanent residency. In this way, it contains the key elements of the bill tabled last year by Senators Kennedy and McCain. Significantly, the Hagel/Martinez bill enjoys the support of Senator Kennedy and Senator McCain, both of whom are active in encouraging its passage through the Senate. It is also supported by the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform which, as Deputies will be aware, is proving most effective in giving expression to the views of many members of our community in the US on immigration reform.

While it remains clear that reaching consensus on this sensitive and divisive issue presents considerable challenges, I am greatly encouraged by the very constructive and positive tone of the discussions in the Senate. These discussions represent a very significant phase in the debate. Should the Senate pass a bill, the legislative process will move to a Conference Committee composed of representatives of the House of Representatives and the Senate convened to reconcile differences between the Senate bill and the Sensenbrenner/King bill passed in the House last December.

During this crucially important period in the Senate, the Deputies can be assured that our efforts on behalf of the undocumented Irish are being maximised to the greatest degree possible.