Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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141. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if progress has been made on establishing an E3 visa agreement between Ireland and the United States of America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28423/20]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The House will be aware that the issue of Irish immigration into the United States has been a high priority for successive Governments and it continues to be prioritised by this Government.

I have continuously raised immigration issues, particularly the E3 visa, in my interactions with the US Administration and US political leaders, including most recently during my meeting with US Special Envoy Mick Mulvaney in Dublin on 28 September and during meetings at senior political level in Washington D.C. last week. The E3 Bill was also raised by the then Taoiseach when he spoke with Mr. Mulvaney in February, and with members of the US administration when he visited Washington D.C. for St Patrick's Day this year. Our Embassy in Washington D.C. also continues its extensive outreach in support of the E3 Bill, working with a range of Members of the US House of Representatives and the Senate, from both sides of the aisle.

The Bill is currently before the US Senate, having been passed in the House of Representatives. It was reintroduced by Congressmen Neal and Sensenbrenner in May 2019, having failed to gain Senate approval the previous year. If passed, this could allow access to thousands of US visas per year to Irish citizens, providing new opportunities for Irish citizens to live and work in the US. The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted upon the congressional agenda; however, we hope that when the circumstances allow, the Bill will also be passed in the Senate, and we will continue to explore all available options for securing this.

While comprehensive immigration reform is a complex and sensitive political issue in the US at present, our Embassy, along with 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. They are supported in this work by the US & Canada Unit of my Department.