Dermot Ahern attends meeting for undocumented Irish in US

A public meeting is taking place in Dublin for families and friends of undocumented Irish emigrants now living the United States.

The meeting is part of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform's campaign to secure rights for the estimated50,000 Irish people living in America.

The lobby has gained support from the Irish Government, which is donating $50,000 (€37,000) dollars to the group.

"The Irish Government has been very central in the lobby over this for the last two years. The Taoiseach and I have raised it with President Bush on each of our meetings over the last three St. Patrick's days in the Oval Office," said Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern.

"In the meantime my embassy and I were out in America on 16 occasions in the last two years and I have always raised the issue with the congressmen and women - ultimately it is they who will have to change the legislation."