Brendan Smith urges action on undocumented Irish in US
Deputy Brendan Smith urged the Taoiseach to raise the status of undocumented Irish in the US with President Biden, citing estimates of up to 10,000 people without regularised status and calling for a legal framework and renewed pursuit of the E3 visa bill. He also asked the Taoiseach to seek the appointment of a special invite to Northern Ireland, noting past holders such as Senator Mitchell.
Undocumented Irish in the US
The deputy said the best estimates show there may be up to 10,000 Irish people in the US whose status is not regularised. He noted that these people are largely working, paying taxes, raising families and contributing to society and argued for a legal framework to allow successful emigration with proper status.
E3 visa bill and legislative setback
Deputy Smith recalled the E3 visa bill option, saying it "fell literally at a second midnight" when one member of the House objected. He urged that progress be made on that route and highlighted difficulties during the pandemic for people without regularised status.
Request for special invite to Northern Ireland
The deputy asked the Taoiseach to raise the need to appoint a special invite to Northern Ireland, pointing to distinguished past holders of the position such as Senator Mitchell. He framed the request as part of the broader agenda to be discussed with the President.
Taoiseach's response and next steps
The Taoiseach thanked Deputy Smith for raising the issues and said the undocumented Irish would be raised with President Biden. The Taoiseach noted the matter is subject to the domestic political environment in the US, but said he would meet friends of Ireland in the House, pursue engagement on the E3 visa bill and continue to press the issue.
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Taoiseach, in your meeting with President Biden next week, I presume that among the many areas for discussion will be the need to strengthen further bilateral relations between both countries and of course we're very glad that a friend of Ireland holds the office of President. I'm thinking in particular of the undocumented Irish. The best estimates show that there may be up to 10,000 people in the US, Irish people, who have not their status regularised. Those people in the main are working, paying their taxes, raising families and contributing. to society. There needs to be a legal framework put in place to ensure that Irish people can emigrate successfully and with proper status to the US. We see during the pandemic the difficulties that can arise for people who don't have their status regularised in the country. So I think it's very important that this issue is very much on the agenda. And one particular piece of legislation was the E3 visa bill option, which fell literally at a second midnight, but when one member of the House objected to the House objected to it at the time. So I sincerely hope that you can make some progress in that. And also to raise with President Biden the need to appoint a special invite to Northern Ireland where you had distinguished persons in the past, such as Senator Mitchell holding that position. Thank you very much. We have to move on. Thank you. Thank you. I want to thank Deputy Smith for raising those very important issues, particularly in relation to the undocumented Irish and certainly we will be raising that issue with the President. Obviously it's an issue that is subject to the domestic political environment of U.S. politics of U.S. politics, but I'll also be meeting with friends of Ireland as well in the House and look forward to engaging with them on this issue also. And particularly around that E3 visa bill, it was very unfortunate what happened on the last occasion and we're going to continue to pursue those issues.
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