Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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333. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress that has been made to date on resolving the issue of undocumented Irish in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57902/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Addressing the difficult situation of undocumented Irish emigrants has been a key priority for successive Governments, and is raised by senior members of this Government at every opportunity. The issue was a notable element of the our high-level political engagements over the St Patrick’s Day period this year, notably during the exchange between the Taoiseach and President Biden.

The Embassy of Ireland in Washington D.C. and network of Consulates across the US continue to raise immigration issues, to seek new immigration pathways, and to support US immigration reform through active engagement at all levels with the US Administration and political leaders at the federal and state levels.

A key element of this engagement includes finding long-term solutions to address the challenges faced by the undocumented Irish in the US. An example of this is a bill passed by the Massachusetts State Senate in May that will enable undocumented immigrants to acquire a Massachusetts Driving License. Our Consulate in Boston has actively supported this initiative, which will soon become law. This will improve the lives on undocumented Irish citizens living in the State in a small, but practical way.

The Government also remains committed to providing support and annual funding to Irish community organisations, including the US Coalition of Irish Immigration Centres, which remain a tremendous resource for our citizens living in the US. The Department of Foreign Affairs actively supports many of these organisations through the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent)
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334. 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57903/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Securing future immigration flows between the US and Ireland remains a key priority for the Irish Government, and we will continue to explore all possible immigration pathways for Irish citizens looking to live and work in the US.

The bipartisan reintroduction of the E3 bill earlier this year in both the US Senate and the House of Representatives was a welcome development. This legislation, if passed, could allow access to thousands of US visas each year for Irish citizens. The Government is actively supporting this renewed effort to get an ‘Irish specific’ category of E3 visa.

However, as almost every legislative proposal related to immigration reform in the last decade has stalled in Congress, the challenges to enactment should not be underestimated - something I heard clearly when I was in Washington on 16 November. Nonetheless, I and my Government colleagues will continue to take all opportunities to encourage passage of the E3 bill.

Immigration issues, including possible pathways to citizenship, are a priority for President Biden, as demonstrated by his proposed US Citizenship Act of 2021. The Government is actively supporting the efforts being made by his Administration, as well as efforts being made by the US Congress on a bipartisan basis, in pursuit of comprehensive immigration reform, which remains a very divisive issue politically in the US.

The Embassy of Ireland in Washington D.C. proactively seeks out and creates opportunities to meet regularly with Members of the House of Representatives and of the Senate, across the political spectrum in the US. This is a key part of the Government’s ongoing work with the Administration and Congress on finding innovative solutions and immigration pathways to address the challenges faced by the undocumented Irish and those seeking to live and work in the US.