Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans, if any, to discuss with the United States authorities, the proposed new Immigration Reform Bill; the way this proposal could benefit the undocumented Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5524/13]

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the progress being made in the USA by Prsident Obama and the Congress in regularising the status of our immigrants in the USA who still have illegal status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5947/13]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with reference to US President Barack Obama's speech regarding immigration reform which was delivered on 29 January at Las Vegas, Nevada, if he will provide an update on his continuing work to support Irish citizens who live without documentation in the USA. [5975/13]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will comment on the communications with the US authorities on the plans for comprehensive immigration reform announced last week; if progress had been made on the E3 Visa Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6069/13]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 221, 228, 230 and 231 together.

The welfare of the Irish abroad in general and especially the position of undocumented Irish immigrants in the United States remains an important priority for the Government. A resolution of the situation for undocumented Irish migrants will continue to be an important priority for the Government in our ongoing contacts with the US Administration and Congress.

The advice of Ireland’s friends and contacts within the US Administration and Congress has long been that comprehensive reform of the US immigration system and procedures is likely to be the only manner by which such a resolution can be achieved. The prospects for such reform have advanced in the wake of President Obama’s re-election. The emphasis he placed on immigration reform in his inauguration address as well as his subsequent speech on the issue on 29 January sent a very positive signal in this regard. The indications of emerging bipartisan support for reform in Congress is also encouraging.

Through our Embassy in Washington and in close liaison with Irish-American community representatives, our contacts with the US Administration and Congress continue with a view to ensuring that the interests and concerns of undocumented Irish immigrants are captured in any future legislative deal in this area that emerges. In this regard, I raised the issue with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during our bilateral meeting on 6 December last and recalled our strong support for comprehensive immigration legislation and the passage of E3 visas for Irish citizens. I will also hold a series of telephone discussions with key US Senators over the coming days. The Taoiseach also discussed immigration reform when he spoke with President Obama to congratulate him on his re-election and wrote to him on 30 January to thank him for the priority being attached by the US Administration to the issue.

Much further debate and discussion is likely to be required within the US political system before the shape of any legislative deal is clear. It is therefore not possible at this stage to identify an exact timescale in which these may become clear but the area will continue to receive the Government’s close attention over the period ahead.