Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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148. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress being made for the undocumented Irish. [46806/18]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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150. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on reports that Irish persons may be eligible for E3 visas in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46970/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 150 together.

The Government continues to pursue two key objectives with regard to Irish immigration to the United States; firstly, increased pathways for legal migration by Irish citizens to the US; and secondly, seeking some form of relief for undocumented Irish citizens living in the US.

The Taoiseach and I continue to prioritise this issue in all our engagements with the US Administration and Congress.

The Government’s Special Envoy to the United States Congress on the Undocumented, Deputy John Deasy, has also been active on the issue and our Embassy in Washington, D.C., continues to engage on an ongoing basis with the Administration and with a wide range of contacts on Capitol Hill.

I welcome the recent tabling of a Bill in the US Congress that, if passed, would allow Ireland to avail of E3 Visas and provide another very welcome pathway for Irish people to gain experience in the US. I not underestimate however the significant difficulties involved in securing the passage of this Bill; requiring as it does a two thirds majority in the House and sixty votes in the Senate.

The Government - including through the Embassy and the work of Deputy John Deasy - will continue to engage proactively with the US Administration and elected representatives, both Democratic and Republican, on Irish immigration issues and specifically on this Bill.

Government efforts to assist the undocumented Irish in the US will also continue, as they have under previous Administrations. Through our many high-level contacts and discussions, the Government continues to explore a number of different options. This remains a very challenging issue, however, as immigration reform has been a sensitive and divisive issue within the US political system for decades.

On the welfare of the undocumented Irish, the Embassy, as well as our six Consulates across the United States, work closely with Irish Immigration Centres, who support the needs of Irish citizens in the United States, including those who are undocumented. These Centres all receive annual funding from the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme to support their important work.

The Taoiseach and I, together with our Government colleagues, Special Envoy Deputy Deasy, and our Embassy in Washington, D.C., will continue to give full priority to these issues.