Ahern under fire from SDLP over 'undocumented Irish'

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was under fire from the SDLP today for saying an amnesty for illegal Irish immigrants living in the US was a non-starter.

Mr Ahern made the comments in Washington after talks with President George Bush.

Illegals, said the Taoiseach, would have to return to Ireland before lodging new visa applications.

The SDLP East Derry Assembly member John Dallat accused Mr Ahern of throwing in the towel and not fighting for his country folk.

Many of them were people who had fled the troubles in the North for a year and been unable to face returning when their visa ran out, he said.

Mr Ahern said there could be between 3,000 and 20,000 illegals – what have become known as ’undocumented Irish’, in the US.

Speaking after meeting Mr Bush on St Patrick’s Day he said: “I don’t want to be gilding the lily. There are 12 million people here illegally.

“We came very close to a Bill with McCann and Kennedy. It wasn’t possible to deliver. The concept of an amnesty wiping the slate clean just is not on.”

But Mr Dallat said: “The Taoiseach is in a very powerful position to influence opinion on Capitol Hill and I am astounded that he has thrown in the towel and described those who genuinely want a solution on the tone he has.

“Perhaps on reflection he will accept that there is a case for thousands of Irish people who have made their homes in the United States and he has an important role in resolving it.”

The MLA said the tone of Mr Ahern’s remarks were very disappointing and disingenuous to those who had taken a genuine interest in the plight of the undocumented Irish in the US.

He added: “The timing of his statement is also unhelpful given that the Presidential candidate Hilary Clinton has undertaken to examine the legal aspect of the present situation where thousands of young Irish people in the US are looking to politicians in places of responsibility to help their plight.”

The Taoiseach had been heavily involved in the North and knew that for many years young people in the North had little choice but to take their chances and seek their prosperity in the US, said Mr Dallat.

“Many genuinely went for a year to get away from the troubles and the lack of opportunity. When their time was up they couldn’t facing coming back and that is now part of history,” he added.