Opposition urged to back Govt's undocumented Irish fight

Opposition parties must support the Government’s campaign to get better rights for the undocumented Irish in the US, a minister said today.

European Affairs Minister Noel Treacy said Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was spearheading moves on the issue and would raise it with US President George Bush at St Patrick’s Day events in Washington this week.

Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern has travelled to the US eight times in the past 18 months to lobby US leaders and meet Irish emigrant groups, Mr Treacy added.

“It’s time for the Opposition to fall-in behind our campaign. This is bigger than party-politics,” the Galway East TD said today.

He added: “The Government is campaigning for the tens of thousands who cannot return to their families. It’s time for the Opposition to join us.”

The minister said he was working very hard on the issue and would be visiting the US himself next month to personally lobby members of the Senate and Congress.

Delegations of Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators as well as their Opposition counterparts have also visited the US in the past year.

“We have already succeeded in getting all-party support for Dáil and Seanad motions supporting the Kennedy/McCaine Bill which promises a path to permanent residency for the undocumented Irish,” Mr Treacy said.

The Taoiseach and the Foreign Affairs Minister have told diplomats in the US that the undocumented Irish issue is a top priority.

The Government has also provided much needed funding to the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform and initiated policies designed to specifically to assist the Irish abroad, Mr Treacy said.

These include sanctioning the pre-1953 pension, free passports for over 65’s and increases in funding for emigrant centres abroad.