Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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153. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if officials in his Department were involved in the discussions on the E3 visa renewal scheme. [50864/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Successive Irish Governments have worked over many years to see some form of immigration legislation passed, pursing two key objectives; 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.

Earlier this year, among many other contacts, the Taoiseach discussed the issue with the US President and with other key Administration figures during his visit to Washington, D.C. I also had discussions on the matter with Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielson and with a number of key Congressional figures when in Washington in February and, more recently, with Congressmen Neal during his visit to Dublin. In addition, just last month I set out for Cabinet colleagues the priority the Government attaches to Irish immigration issues in the US and our strategy in pursuit of our objectives.

My officials, both in Dublin and at our Embassy in Washington, D.C., have worked intensively on this issue over many years and specifically on the Irish E3 Visa Bill in recent months, in close collaboration with Special Envoy to the US Congress on the Undocumented, John Deasy T.D. The Bill was approved in the US House of Representatives on 28 November, and is now expected to be considered in the US Senate in the coming week. There are no guarantees the Bill will be approved, however, requiring as it does unanimous support from Senators.

Officials from my Department have been at the forefront of engagement with the US Administration and with Congress, and they have pursued this issue with vigour, working closely with Deputy Deasy since his appointment. This engagement will continue in the immediate period ahead as we seek a successful conclusion to the E3 legislative process.

If the E3 Bill were to pass, it would provide very welcome opportunities for Irish citizens to live and work in the US, but would not unfortunately address the need for pathways for the Irish who are undocumented to regularise their status. My officials and I will continue to work on this as a priority, as we seek some measure of relief for the Irish undocumented.