Apr 2009
Fine Gael National Press Office Press Release | |||||||||
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| Thursday 16th April 2009 | |||||||||
Positive moves in US on undocumented Irish must be backed by Irish Govt - Ring | |||||||||
New developments in the US on legalising the undocumented Irish must be fully backed by pressure from the Irish Government, according to Fine Gael Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Spokesman Michael Ring TD. "I am delighted that the Obama administration plans to initiate a debate on how to legalise the 50,000 undocumented Irish in the US this year. There is more good news as the Chairman of the Immigration Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Charles E. Schumer, has called for the US immigration matter to be solved for once and for all. "Senator Schumer went so far as to say that reform might be possible this year. He stated recently that: 'We must solve the immigration issue and we can, even in these difficult economic times. I believe there is a real chance of passing comprehensive reform this year, and the Senate panel on immigration will begin a series of meetings and hearings later this month with an eye towards meeting that goal'. "I would welcome any move to finally resolve the ongoing issue of the undocumented Irish in the US. However, the Irish Government must play its part in any such move, as its actions to date have been lukewarm at best. Last year former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern ruled out trying to agree a special deal for the undocumented Irish. "I will be contacting Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin shortly to ask whether he has noted Senator Schumer's comments, and to determine whether he will be offering to assist the US administration in this regard." |
