Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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620. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of any recent discussions at political or official level with the authorities in the United States of America in relation to immigration reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6052/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US and agreement on a facility for future legal migration between Ireland and the US are priority issues in the Government’s relationship with the United States. Our Embassy in Washington and Consulates elsewhere in the US are active in advocating immigration reform and the issue is also the subject of high level political contacts between Ireland and the US Government.

During the Taoiseach’s recent visit to Washington for St. Patrick’s Day, he met with President Obama, Vice President Biden, Speaker Ryan, Senator Schumer and other key Congressional contacts from both sides of the aisle. At these meetings the Taoiseach raised the situation of the Irish undocumented in the US and encouraged them to work towards a comprehensive package of immigration reform measures. The Taoiseach also took the opportunity to address the issue of immigration reform in his speech at the Speaker’s lunch at Capitol Hill, where he urged Republicans and Democrats to work together to find a way to resolve the plight of the undocumented Irish in the United States. I also raised this issue during my visit to Washington and New York for St. Patrick’s Day.

Following my visit to Washington DC in September 2015, a Bill was tabled by Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner in the US House of Representatives. The Bill is aimed at providing access to several thousand E3 visas for Irish citizens. Although I warmly welcome this positive step towards meeting the desire of many Irish people to live and work in the US for a time, I would also point out that there is much work to be done in both Houses of Congress before this Bill might become law. While this particular measure would advance our objective of securing improved legal migration channels, it would not address the concerns of undocumented citizens currently in the US. These remain a key priority and continue to be the subject of ongoing contacts with the US authorities.

The judicial case on President Obama’s Executive Actions on immigration reform has now been referred to the US Supreme Court, with a decision expected by the early summer. If the appeal succeeds and the measure is implemented, President Obama’s Executive Action could benefit a significant number of our citizens by lifting the threat of deportation and allowing work and travel more freely within the United States to those undocumented immigrants who meet its conditions.

The Government as a whole, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Dublin and our Embassy in Washington, will continue to actively pursue all opportunities to advance immigration reform that would benefit our citizens with the US Administration, Congress, the Republican leadership and the US Embassy in Ireland. In addition, the Government continues to provide significant financial support, €1,592,627 in 2015, to assist the work of various Irish immigration centres across the US.