Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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482. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the proposed immigration reform legislation in the United States of America; the outcome of any recent discussions he has had with Senators and Members of the House of Representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27454/16]

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 remains a key objective for the Government. Our Embassy in Washington and Consulates elsewhere in the US are very active in advocating for immigration reform while the issue is also regularly addressed in high level political contacts between Ireland and the US Government.

The Taoiseach discussed the prospects for immigration reform with Vice President Biden during his visit to Ireland in July. While in Washington for St. Patrick’s Day, the Taoiseach and I met President Obama, Vice President Biden, Speaker Ryan, Senator Schumer and other key Congressional contacts from both sides of the aisle. During these meetings we emphasised the plight of the undocumented Irish in the US and encouraged both Houses of Congress to work on a bipartisan basis towards a comprehensive package of immigration reform measures.

I availed of my UNGA visit to New York last week to engage with Irish community leaders in the United States and to discuss with them the prospects for achieving immigration reform and to reassure them of the Government’s continuing commitment to provide practical support to assist undocumented Irish citizens. In addition, Minister of State McHugh met with representatives of the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers, representing a broad group of Irish centres across the United States, in New York on 20 September. The meeting was also attended by Senator Billy Lawless.

The current political environment in the United States is not conducive to achieving the necessary political consensus that would facilitate the advancement in the short term of comprehensive immigration reform in the US Congress. Nevertheless, the Government, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and our Embassy in Washington, working closely with Irish American community leaders, continue to actively pursue all viable opportunities to advance immigration reform that would be of benefit to our citizens. While there is little prospect of comprehensive immigration reform being achieved within the lifetime of the current Congress, our Ambassador and Embassy staff are assiduously working with well disposed contacts, on both sides of the political aisle, to prepare the basis for a renewed initiative once a new Administration and Congress have been established in Washington DC.