FG to lobby in US for illegals

A FINE Gael delegation will visit Washington this week to lobby US government officials on behalf of the many thousands of undocumented Irish people living there.

The party's spokesman on emigrant affairs, Paul Connaughton, will be joined by fellow TDs Dinny McGinley, Michael Ring and Simon Coveney, who is also an MEP.

US senators Ted Kennedy and John McCain will shortly bring forward legislation to pave the way for undocumented workers living in America to attain legal status. This could involve each illegal alien paying a fine of a few thousand dollars in order to obtain a three-year visa. They could apply for citizenship once the three years are up.