US Ambassador to answer questions on Irish illegals

The plight of illegal Irish emigrants in the US will be the subject of a Dáil Committee meeting next week.

US Ambassador to Ireland James Kenny is to face the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs next Tuesday.

He will be questioned about the undocumented Irish in America, thought to number about 100,000 people, who have faced tightened restrictions since the World Trade Centre attacks on September 11 2001.

The Ambassador is expected to say that any reform would require a bill to be passed in the US Congress.