Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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142. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding discussions with the US authorities on immigration reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30713/17]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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143. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to have further discussions with the US authorities at political and official level on the need to progress immigration reform in view of the concerns of many Irish citizens living in the United States of America who are anxious to have their status regularised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30714/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together.

The Government’s objectives regarding our undocumented citizens in the United States remain constant, namely: to achieve relief for the undocumented and facilitate greater pathways for legal migration to the United States.

In pursuit of these objectives the Government and Ireland’s diplomatic representatives in the US systematically avail of all opportunities to raise immigration, including the prospects for immigration reform, and the situation of the undocumented in the United States, with members of the Administration and Congressional representatives.

In mid-March, the former Taoiseach, Mr. Enda Kenny, TD, used the opportunity of his meetings with President Trump, Vice-President Pence, Speaker Ryan, and other senior US leaders during the St. Patrick’s Day engagements in Washington DC to raise immigration-related issues and to convey the continuing importance which we attach to them.

The Taoiseach spoke by phone to President Trump on the afternoon of Tuesday 27 June. During their brief conversation the Taoiseach raised a number of issues including the situation of the up to 50,000 undocumented Irish in the US. The Taoiseach looks forward to having an opportunity to discuss this, and other matters, with President Trump in more detail in due course.

I am aware of the understandable concerns among members of the Irish community in the U.S., in light of recent developments under the new Administration.

The Department has therefore funded the provision of factual legal advice, for information purposes, for undocumented Irish citizens in the U.S., which has been disseminated among Irish immigration centers in the United States and is available online.

Our Embassy in Washington DC is in close and ongoing contact with the U.S. authorities and can report that numbers of deportations of Irish citizens to date this year have not increased compared to recent years.

In May the Government announced an additional € 50,000 funding from the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme budget for the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centers, which provides advice and vital services to our citizens in the US.

The issues of immigration reform and the welfare of undocumented Irish citizen in the US are a central element of the work of Ireland’s diplomatic representatives in the US. Our Embassy in Washington DC and our six Consulates across the United States work with Irish immigration centers on a daily basis in providing support to Irish citizens.

I can assure the Deputy of the Government’s continued commitment to pursuing these matters on behalf of our citizens in the US.