Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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44. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to secure comprehensive immigration reform for undocumented Irish in the United States of America. [35220/16]

Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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52. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the supposed 50,000 undocumented Irish citizens living in the USA, particularly since the recent US election; if his Department is supporting organisations in the country that are assisting the undocumented Irish; and if he will raise the issue with his American counterpart. [36311/16]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 48 and 52 together.

Achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US and agreement on a facility for future pathways for migration between Ireland and the US have been key objectives for the Government. Notwithstanding the changing political context in the United States, the Government’s commitment to these objectives remains constant.

The Taoiseach availed of his recent separate telephone conversations with President Elect Trump and Vice President Pence to raise our concerns in regard to immigration matters. The new Administration does not take office until 20 January and the process of considering and announcing nominations to its senior posts is ongoing. Nevertheless, during the transition period, the Government will avail of all opportunities for contact with the incoming Administration to sensitise them to our concerns and interests in regard to immigration reform, and the the plight of the undocumented in particular.

The Government has raised the issue of immigration reform with US interlocutors – including at the highest levels – on many occasions. It will continue to use high-level visits to and from the US, as well as Ireland’s diplomatic representation in the United States, to advance these aims. The Embassy in Washington has worked closely with members of the US Congress - in both the House of Representatives and the US Senate, and on both sides of the aisle – to advance progress on this matter and will continue to do so. We are fortunate to be able to draw on the assistance of the Friends of Ireland in Congress and the many representatives of Irish America who share our commitment to immigration reform.

I most recently raised the question of immigration reform, including relief for undocumented Irish citizens in the United States, during my meeting with US Secretary of State, Mr John Kerry, on 30 October. In September, I had the opportunity to meet Irish community leaders in the United States, to discuss with them the prospects for achieving immigration reform and to reassure them of the Government’s commitment to the issue. In addition, Minister of State McHugh met 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. Last week in Boston, he had further discussions with representatives of Irish immigration centers and raised the issue in formal meetings with the Mayor of Boston and the Governor of Massachusetts.

Conscious of the challenges that may lie ahead, the Government will continue to support, through my Department’s Emigrant Support Programme, the work of the Irish Immigration Centres across the US, who do so much to help undocumented Irish citizens in the US. This year we are committing almost € 1 million to support their work. In addition, our Ambassador in Washington DC intends to convene a meeting of immigration stakeholders in the Irish-American community in the first half of December.

The Government, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and our Embassy in Washington continue to work closely with Irish-American community leaders in actively pursuing all viable opportunities to advance immigration reform. A new Administration and a new Congress will take time to settle in. We will of course pursue this issue in our contacts with the incoming Administration and Congress and encourage and promote any realistic possibilities for a solution that may arise.