28/05/2008

Government 'Working To Secure Special Deal For Illegal Irish'

The Taoiseach has told the Dáil the Government is doing all it can to broker legal status for Irish immigrants living and working illegally in the United States.

Responding to questions from Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny, Brian Cowen said the Irish Government was pursuing a special bilateral arrangement with the US that might help to address the problem.

However, he said achieving a special amnesty for illegal Irish immigrants would be difficult given that there are millions of immigrants from other countries also living in the US.

In May, Bertie Ahern gave an impassioned plea to the joint houses of Congress for an amnesty for the Irish living illegally in America. He said: He said: "We are profoundly aware of [the] challenges as we ask you to consider the case of our undocumented Irish immigrant community in the United States today.

"We hope you will be able to find a solution to their plight that would enable them to regularise their status and open to them a path to permanent residency."

See: Ahern Asks Congress To Give Irish Immigrants Permanent Status

(DW/JM)

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