Lobby group for undocumented Irish gets €38k boost

The Government is to give an additional $50,000 (€38,997) to an influential lobby group working to ensure undocumented Irish can stay in the US, it emerged today.

The money will go to the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform to help with its work in securing a path to permanency for the 30,000 or so illegal Irish living in America.

Dermot Ahern, Foreign Affairs Minister, announced the cash boost after a meeting with the ILIR president Grant Lally in Dundalk.

The next fortnight could prove crucial in delivering legislation which might provide a solution for the tens of thousands of undocumented Irish living and working in the US, some of whom have not returned home for several years.

Mr Ahern said he welcomed comments by President George W Bush on immigration reform.

“In particular, I welcome his view that most of those who are currently undocumented should be able to apply for citizenship, once qualifying conditions are met,” he said.

“I recognise fully the complexity and sensitivity of this issue and I deeply appreciate the president’s call for concerted efforts to work towards a rational middle ground.”

Mr Ahern agreed to the extra funding after meeting the president of the ILIR Grant Lally.

“ILIR are most effective in giving expression to the views of many members of our community in the US on the debate on immigration reform,” the minister said. Said.

“I was particularly pleased to inform Grant Lally of my decision to provide a further $50,000 to support their important work.”