John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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184. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland historically enjoyed a quota or a formal or informal arrangement regarding the numbers of emigrants to the United States; if so, the arrangement; the numbers involved; when this arrangement, if in existence, came to an end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40498/17]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The regulations governing immigration into the United States are a matter solely for the U.S. authorities and immigration from Ireland to the U.S. is not and has not been the subject of bilateral agreements, formal or informal.

Until 1965, immigration into the United States was based on a system of national quotas, with the quota per country set at two per cent of the foreign-born population of that nationality as per the 1890 US census.

In 1965, the US abolished this national-origins quota system. It was replaced with a preference system, based on immigrants’ family relationships with US citizens or US permanent residents, as well as other factors.

The numbers of Irish people being admitted to the US as legal immigrants has dropped significantly since 1965.

In response, successive Governments have sought greater pathways for migration to the United States by Irish citizens.

I can assure the Deputy that those efforts are continuing.