Visa waiver scheme demanded for undocumented irish in us

THE government is being called on to immediately explore the potential for the introduction of a visa waiver scheme for undocumented Irish living in the United States.

The demand is coming from a new group, The Families of the Undocumented Irish in America, which will be launched in Castlebar, today (Monday) by Donegal man Michael McMahon.

At the weekend Mr. McMahon claimed that to date neither the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan or the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, have never formally asked the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland for these waivers “despite knowing for years about the existence of scheme.'

Mr. McMahon added: “Mexico received 58,000 waivers in 2011 alone all because the Mexican Government pursued it with the American administration. Other countries like Israel, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic and Australia already participate in this waiver scheme.”

All government ministers have to do, Mr. McMahon maintained, is go to the U.S. Embassy in Dublin and formally ask for the waivers to be granted to eligible Irish citizens.