Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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109. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he had discussions during his recent visit to the United States on the difficulties facing the undocumented Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28450/20]

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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133. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress made to date on resolving the issue of undocumented Irish persons in the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28422/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 133 together.

The status of the undocumented Irish in the US has been a high priority for successive Governments and continues to be one of my key priorities. Immigration issues have been raised on an ongoing basis in our engagement with the US Administration and political leaders, including by the Taoiseach during calls to members of the US Administration. I have also raised immigration issues in my recent contacts with Special Envoy Mick Mulvaney, with the US Ambassador, and with members of the US Administration and both Houses of Congress on my visit to Washington D.C. last week.

In the US, our Embassy and Consulates General across the country continue to monitor the situation closely and to engage with US officials on immigration issues, including with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They also actively support Irish community groups that provide support and information to vulnerable Irish and the undocumented. Many of these community groups are members of the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centres, which receives significant annual funding through the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme for their work.

In 2019, over €3m ($3.7m) was allocated to 76 organisations across the US, including those that provide front-line welfare assistance to Irish citizens. Furthermore, in response to the pandemic, a dedicated COVID-19 Response Fund for Irish Communities Abroad was set up to help these organisations meet the needs of those who are particularly vulnerable. Over the past four months, Minister Brophy and I have met virtually with many of these organisations and heard first-hand of the challenges faced by our diaspora, and the valuable support these organisations are providing.

While comprehensive immigration reform is a complex and sensitive political issue in the US at present, our Embassy and our Consulates General across the United States will continue to monitor the situation and stand ready to engage with any Federal and State initiatives on this issue.

In terms of securing future pathways for immigration, we continue to prioritise the E3 visa Bill and hope to see it pass through Congress at the earliest opportunity.