Immigrant workers - US bill must meet Irish lobby’s needs

WHILE it may seem ironic that Europe proved divided on the question of labour market access on the same day as millions of immigrant workers were expected to protest in the United States, it is important that Ireland has already taken a very unambiguous position in its attitude to immigrant workers.

The Day Without Immigrants in the US — which involved job stoppages and boycotts not supported by the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform as they fear American alienation — highlighted the call for legislation which would legitimise some 12m people living illegally there, including tens of thousands of Irish.

The Irish lobbyists are hopeful about the McCain Kennedy Bill, which was held up in the Senate before Easter, especially as US President George W Bush intervened between Republicans and Democrats to try to arrive at a compromise bill.

Hopefully, the problem may be resolved there by the end of this month, although the House of Representatives has maintained a tough stance on illegal immigrants.

It is crucial that the dealing surrounding the bill meets the needs of the Irish lobby, which is backing the compromise.

But the issue has led to a highly divided Republican Party, as well as a Democratic Party which probably considers it might electorally benefit in November polls if there were no immigration bill, for which the former could be blamed.

Ireland’s attitude in opening its borders with EU enlargement last year can only help, morally, the Irish lobby in America to succeed in having the bill passed.

Yesterday, only four other EU members — Greece, Portugal, Spain and Finland — joined Ireland, Britain and Sweden in opening their borders to the 10 newest member States.