The Government is to give an additional $50,000 to an influential lobby group working to ensure undocumented Irish can stay in the United States, it emerged today.
The money will go to the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR) to help with its work in securing permanency for the 30,000 or so illegal Irish living in the United States.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, announced the donation after a meeting with the ILIR president Grant Lally in Dundalk.
The next fortnight could prove crucial in delivering legislation that might provide a solution for the tens of thousands of undocumented Irish living and working in the United States, some of whom have not returned home for several years.
Mr Ahern said he welcomed comments by President 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."
PA