http://www.unison.ie/breakingnews/index ... kingnews=1

Labour: Ahern not doing enough for illegal Irish in US

07:11 Saturday March 18th 2006
The Taoiseach is being accused of not doing enough to lobby for Irish immigrants in the United States, while visiting Washington.
In a meeting at the White House yesterday, Bertie Ahern asked George Bush to help legalise the 50,000 Irish people living in America.

It comes ahead of a vote on the Kennedy-McCain Bill, which would give the undocumented Irish a chance to apply for work visas.

The Taoiseach has suggested that compromises could be made on the legislation to combat opposition.

But Labour's Michael D. Higgins doesn't agree: "I'm not at all encouraged by what I've heard in reports of the St Patrick's Day meetings. Unfortunately the point is, whether or not Mr Ahern has made any progress will depend on how much of the Kennedy-McCain principles they have been able to retain.

"It doesn't look very hopeful, at the moment," he concluded.




© http://www.unison.ie/