Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding undocumented Irish in America; the progress made; and the action taken to date by him. [45422/09]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the meetings that have taken place in the past six months regarding an agreement to assist the undocumented Irish in America; and the outcome of these meetings. [45423/09]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 283 and 284 together.

Finding a solution for our undocumented citizens in the US continues to be a high priority of this Government. We are also committed to developing our bilateral migration arrangements with the United States, through the establishment of a reciprocal two year renewable visa scheme known as the E3 visa.

In discussions with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, during her visit to Ireland in October, I stressed that the Government was continuing to pursue a three pronged strategy to address migratory flows between Ireland and the US. This strategy involves seeking a solution for the undocumented Irish, the establishment of an E3 visa and the continued expansion of the working holiday programme, which was concluded last year. In response to these issues, Secretary of State Clinton indicated that immigration reform may be addressed in early 2010, following the passage of healthcare legislation.

On my visit to Washington and New York on 14-17 October, I held extensive discussions on the prospect for progress on immigration reform with significant number of key Democrats and Republicans in Congress. These included the Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Patrick Leahy, Senator John McCain, Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Senator Chris Dodd, Senator Bob Casey, Senator Paul Kirk, the Chair of the House Sub Committee on Immigration, Zoe Lofgren and the members of the House of Representatives Friends of Ireland Group.

There was considerable support expressed at these meetings for efforts to find a solution for the undocumented and for the E3 visa initiative. I received some indications that a comprehensive immigration bill which would address the concerns of the undocumented could be introduced in Congress in Spring 2010, but I was also advised that such a timetable could be influenced by ongoing debate on health care reform and the fact that 2010 will be an election year in the US.

In New York, I also had a very useful meeting with the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, who continue to lobby for the undocumented Irish, with the assistance of former Congressman Bruce Morrison. During my visit, I was pleased to announce a further grant of $50,000 to ILIR. This brings to $285,000, the total amount of funding allocated by the Government to ILIR since 2006.

In addition to these recent contacts, a Congressional Delegation, led by Congressman Richard Neal, Chair of the Friends of Ireland, visited Ireland from 27 June to 5 July this year. During this visit, I hosted the delegation for a dinner in Cork and they also met with the Tánaiste and the Ceann Comhairle in Dublin. Comprehensive immigration reform and the importance of finding a solution for the undocumented Irish featured strongly during our discussions.

Question No. 285 answered with Question No. 282.