State push to make 50,000 Irish in US legal

THE Government is making a major effort to have around 50,000 Irish immigrants in the US legalised.

The Taoiseach and Foreign Minister are taking advantage of the traditional St Patrick’s Day festivities to support a bill drawn up by US Senators Ted Kennedy and John McCain.

“We are lobbying not just President Bush in the Oval Office but congressmen all over the US during the next week”, said Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern as he set off for Dallas at the weekend.