Taoiseach: 'Very challenging' to get deal for undocumented Irish in US
The Taoiseach has warned that it will be "very challenging" to get a deal for the undocumented Irish ahead of his meeting in the White House this week.Micheál Martin has said he is "looking forward" to meeting US president Donald Trump in the Oval Office but expects some "to and fro" during their discussions.Mr Martin, who has touched down in Austin, Texas, is visiting Dell headquarters as well as Tricentis, which has operations in Cork, as part of a charm offensive to lure more jobs and investment to Ireland."Our strategy really is to, notwithstanding all of the commentary and so on, is to really bring home the idea that this is an enduring, robust presence in Ireland, and the relationship is a very strong one that we want to see grow into the future. And so that's my focus today. But I'm looking forward to the meeting in the White House," he said.Mr Martin said: "An objective this week is notwithstanding a more challenging global environment, just to make sure we protect that investment in Ireland, but also open up opportunities for further investment."Asked if he will be raising the case of tens of thousands undocumented Irish living in the US with president Trump, Mr Martin said: "It's very challenging, as you can see, although president Trump has always been of a positive disposition to try and get issues of that kind resolved properly through legal challenge, but the challenge has always been on the Hill," he said.Efforts have been made to secure an Irish-specific E3 visa programme that would open up a new legal pathway for more Irish citizens to live and work in the US, however, it is unlikely that undocumented Irish currently in the US would be eligible for such a programme, if secured.Mr Martin added: "As you know in previous attempts at E3 visa for example, we were unlucky losing by one votes a years ago in the Senate. So it's very challenging to get through both houses to get any measures through.Mr Martin is also attending the SXSW festival while in Austin, which this year includes a pop-up Gaeltacht and a focus on the Irish film sector.He pointed to the fact that 9% of Irish workers are now involved in the creative industries."These opportunities in animation, screen, film production are enormous, and we've had a very strong growing sector in Ireland. And so participation and festivities of this kind today is very important."
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