Michael Harty (Clare, Independent)
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354. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the Government has plans to defend the undocumented Irish in the United States should there be any attempt to deport them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39667/16]

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 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. I was also able to raise the issue of Immigration Reform in the United States with Speaker Paul Ryan in a courtesy phone call on Wednesday, 23 November.

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 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.

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.

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.