John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the efforts being undertaken to support legislative proposals in the United States which would benefit the undocumented Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25166/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Government attaches the highest priority to the welfare of the undocumented Irish in the United States. We 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 in all of our dealings with contacts in the US Administration and Legislature.

The Taoiseach and I raised this issue with President Bush when we met with him on St. Patrick's Day. The President helpfully 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 has endorsed strongly on a number of occasions since then.

In view of the prominence of immigration reform on the legislative agenda in the US, I returned to Washington D.C. on 23rd and 24th May to reiterate to key legislators the importance which the Government attaches to the welfare of the undocumented Irish.

I also availed of the opportunity of that visit to meet again with the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR), an organisation which is proving most effective in representing the views of many Irish people resident there and which the Government has been happy to support financially. ILIR continue to be active on the ground, including in meetings yesterday in Washington D.C. when they were joined by a number of Members of the Oireachtas.

The positive approach to immigration reform which is favoured by President Bush and legislators including Senator Kennedy and Senator McCain received a significant boost on 25th May with the passage through the US Senate of a comprehensive bill on immigration. The bill, proposed by Senators Hagel and Martinez, contains provisions that would provide a path to permanent residency for the majority of the undocumented in the US. In this way, it contains many of the key elements of the Kennedy/McCain bill. It is strongly supported by ILIR and I also warmly welcomed its passage through the Senate.

While we are greatly encouraged by the passing of the Senate bill, the reality remains that achieving further progress on this sensitive and divisive issue will present a very considerable challenge. However, the Deputy can be fully assured that our efforts on behalf of the undocumented Irish will continue to be prioritised in every way possible in the critical period ahead.