Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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646. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he raised with the Obama Administration the introduction of a waiver policy for Ireland, currently available through the embassies of the United States of America in several other states, which would remove the current obstacle of the three and ten-year bars for undocumented Irish citizens in the United States of America. [12790/15]

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 high level Government contacts and with many other individuals and groups across Irish America and beyond. All of this work is aimed at achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the United States and improved channels for legal migration between Ireland and America.

Throughout his recent visit to the US and in a series of high level contacts with the US Administration, with Congress and at State level, the Taoiseach raised the issue of immigration reform and the plight of the undocumented Irish, stressing that almost every family in Ireland is related to or knows somebody who is caught up in this deeply distressing situation.

During his meeting with President Obama on 17 March the Taoiseach commended him on his executive action announced late last year. The Deputy would be aware that this action is currently the subject of legal proceedings in the US federal courts. The Taoiseach emphasised the need to allow the undocumented to come out of the shadows and be free to travel home for family events. He also highlighted the issue of those amongst the Irish undocumented who might be eligible forvisas, but who would be required to return to Ireland for their issuance and hence would require waivers for their prior period of undocumented residence.

The Taoiseach also pointed to the need for a legal pathway to allow for future Irish immigration to the US for those who wish to make a contribution there, expressing the hope that a political way forward could be found on this issue which would encourage progress on a comprehensive legislative package by Congress. President Obama spoke of his executive actions on immigration reform and acknowledged the contribution of Irish immigrants to America’s development. He considered that one of the great strengths of the United States had always been its willingness to welcome new immigrants to its shores.

The Government has had many contacts in recent years with the US to promote immigration reform and to press for any viable opportunities which would be of potential value to the Irish undocumented. As part of this ongoing process, and on my instructions, a letter was sent from my Department to the US Embassy in Dublin on 24 February in regard to immigration reform and particularly raising the issue of visa waivers. The US Embassy has acknowledged receipt of the letter and has indicated that it hopes to respond in the near future. Both I and my Department are keeping in close contact with the US Embassy on this matter.

I also raised immigration reform issues, including the issue of travel for the Irish undocumented and the visa waiver issue, when I met with Vice President Biden in Boston on 30 March.

The Government as a whole, including my Department in Dublin and our Embassy in Washington, will continue to actively follow up on all of the issues raised in recent contacts with the US Administration, with Congress and with the US Embassy in Ireland.