Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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12. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to meet with the Administration of the United States of America in relation to the urgent need to progress the proposed immigration reform legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8234/15]

Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US is a priority for the Government in our contacts with the United States. Through our Embassy in Washington and our Consulates throughout the U.S., we continue to work closely with our high level Government contacts and with many other individuals and groups across Irish America and beyond towards achieving some relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the United States and improved channels for legal migration between Ireland and America. When the Minister for Foreign Affairs travels to New York next month, he will meet and exchange views with a range of groups and organisations supporting the undocumented Irish and immigration reform. In addition, Taoiseach Enda Kenny T.D., will travel to Washington for St. Patrick’s Day and will meet with President Obama, Vice President Biden and other senior US Administration figures as well as with key Congressional contacts.

These meetings will provide an important opportunity to reiterate our concerns in regard to the position of the undocumented Irish, to seek further information on the detail of President Obama’s executive action and to encourage progress on a comprehensive legislative package by Congress.

While the executive measures announced by President Obama clearly represent real progress, Minister Flanagan and I are well aware that some will not benefit from these new arrangements and the Deputy will also be aware that there are currently legal challenges underway.

During my visit to Washington from 20-21 January, I had a number of meetings with key Republican members of the House. It provided an opportunity to assess the intentions of the Republican majority in terms of dealing with immigration this year and to convey the Government’s ongoing determination to achieve some relief for the undocumented and improved channels for legal migration between Ireland and America.

Our Ambassador and her team in Washington are continuing their ongoing engagement with the US administration on this priority issue for the Government. We also keep in close contact with the US Ambassador to Ireland and his team at the US Embassy.