Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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72. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on his discussions with US officials in relation to immigration reform, and in particular the plight of undocumented Irish citizens in the United States of America; his plans to meet with US officials in the near future to discuss this further; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2790/17]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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89. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of times since coming to office he has met with US officials to discuss immigration reform and in particular the plight of the undocumented Irish citizens in America; his plans to meet with US officials on this issue over the next six months; his views on when reform on this issue will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2789/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 89 together.

Achieving relief for undocumented Irish migrants in the US and agreement on a facility for future migration between Ireland and the US are longstanding Government objectives. We continue to be committed to these aims notwithstanding the changed political context in the United States.

The Government has raised the issue of immigration reform with US interlocutors – including at the highest levels – on many occasions. I personally raised the issue when I met then-Secretary of State John Kerry in Co. Tipperary, on 30 October 2016. I also raised it when I spoke to Speaker Paul Ryan by telephone on 23 November 2016.

The Government has also availed of every opportunity to sensitise the incoming Administration to our concerns and interests regarding immigration reform, and the plight of the undocumented Irish in particular. The Taoiseach raised the matter in his separate telephone conversations with President Trump and Vice-President Pence in the days following the Presidential election. Immigration reform will be high on my agenda for my planned visit to Washington DC in early February. Moreover, the forthcoming St. Patrick’s Day engagements will provide a further opportunity to express to senior figures in the new Administration and Congress our aims and concerns in relation to the undocumented.

The Government 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 appreciate our concerns.

In addition to these political efforts, our Embassy in Washington and our Consulates throughout the United States will continue to engage with Irish community groups in relation to their concerns. In recent days, Ambassador Anderson convened a meeting of senior immigration stakeholders at our Embassy in Washington in order to hear directly from those who work most-closely with the undocumented Irish.

We will also continue to support organisations that deliver frontline advisory services and community care to Irish emigrants through the Emigrant Support Programme. More than 70% of the funds allocated through this programme are directed towards welfare services, including in support of the undocumented Irish in the U.S. In the last funding round for the Emigrant Support Programme, organisations in the U.S were allocated more than €2.3 million in funding. 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. We will encourage and promote any realistic possibilities for a solution that may arise.