Bill to make Irish illegals US residents may never happen

FOREIGN Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern yesterday conceded a bill clearing the way for 25,000 Irish illegals to become permanent residents of the United States may never “see the light of day”.

Mr Ahern and opposition leader Enda Kenny are on separate trips to the US to underscore their support for the thousands of Irish illegals living in the country.

The minister has the unanimous support of the Dáil for his efforts to lobby legislators to back a bipartisan bill proposed by Democrat Senator Edward Kennedy and Republican John McCain.