Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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131. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on recent discussions he has had within his Department on the undocumented Irish in the United States of America and the recent visa deal. [50820/18]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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132. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has met with the United States of America envoy to discuss the developments on the E3 visa schemes. [50821/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together.

I and my Government colleagues regret that it did not prove possible to secure passage of the Irish E3 Visa Bill in December, during the last term of the outgoing US Congress.

While this was disappointing news for all who care about the Ireland-US relationship, it is important to acknowledge the strong support received from many quarters for Ireland's position on securing a legal pathway for Irish citizens wishing to live and work in the US, an issue of very real importance for the continued development of the Ireland-US relationship.

I believe that the backing received from the US Administration; former Speaker Paul Ryan; the Congressional Friends of Ireland; and many others, Republican and Democrat, on this Bill, is testament to the depth and strength of our transatlantic relationship.

The Taoiseach and I have prioritised the immigration issue in the US since taking office. We will therefore continue our efforts in this regard until we secure progress – both in terms of future legal immigration opportunities for Irish citizens; and in securing a pathway for those Irish who are undocumented in order to regularise their status.

Special Envoy to the US Congress on the Undocumented, John Deasy T.D., has worked closely on these issues with my Department, and in particular with our Embassy in Washington DC. This work will continue.

Providing on-going support for those Irish who are undocumented in the US is a priority. My Department, including through our Embassy and Consulates in the US, will continue to work with Irish Immigration Centres across the US, including supporting their outreach to vulnerable Irish and the undocumented. In 2018, over €3 million was allocated to 76 organisations across the US, including the Irish Centres.

My Department maintains close ties with the US Embassy here in Dublin, and has frequent engagements and constructive discussions on a range of issues. While I have not recently met the US Chargé d'Affaires on this issue, the Secretary General of my Department and our Ambassador to the US have met separately with Mr. Smyth in the last two weeks.

I look forward to visiting the US in February, for a series of engagements with the US Administration and Congressional leaders on the full range of issues of mutual interest. I will raise immigration issues in these meetings, as I have done in all my interactions with the US Administration and US political leaders since taking office.

In addition, the Taoiseach will have a range of engagements at the highest levels of the US Administration and Congress over the St. Patrick's Day period, and will highlight our priorities in terms of immigration in that context.