Taoiseach Micheál Martin.RollingNews.ie
Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin was in Texas on Monday, kicking off his St. Patrick's Day engagements in the US this week.
Amidst a busy first day of events on Monday that included a meeting with the Governor of Texas Greg Abbott, the Taoiseach responded to a question about the undocumented Irish in the US.
The Taoiseach told reporters in Austin that he "may very well" raise the matter with Trump, according to the Irish Independent.
"I mean, it's very challenging, as you can see," the Taoiseach said.
"Although President Trump has always been of a positive disposition to try and get issues of that kind resolved properly and through legal channels.
"But the challenge has always been in the on the Hill. As you know, in previous attempts at the E-3 visa, for example, we were unlucky with losing by one vote some years ago in the Senate, and so it's very challenging to get through both Houses and get any measure through.
"But we do consistently raise the situation."
Ireland's latest Programme for Government includes a provision to "seek solutions for undocumented Irish citizens in the US to regularise their status."
By nature of them being undocumented, the exact number of how many undocumented Irish people are in the US is unknown, though it's estimated to be in the thousands.
Earlier in the day on Monday, the Taoiseach remained largely tight-lipped about his strategy for his meeting with Trump in Washington, DC on Wednesday, though he did say he was "looking forward" to the engagement.
According to the PA, the Taoiseach told reporters: “I represent the country, the people of Ireland, and I am very, very conscious that in a very challenging world, thousands and thousands of jobs depend on the economic relationship between the United States and Ireland.
“And my overriding objective is to copper fasten that for the time ahead and to protect those people who are working in jobs. And that is very important.”
The PA reports that when pressed on his strategy for the meeting with Trump, the Taoiseach said: “Our strategy really is to – notwithstanding all the commentary – bring home the idea that [the US has] an enduring, robust presence in Ireland and the relationship is a very strong one that we want to see grow into the future.
“So that’s my focus today and I take it day by day, but I’m looking forward to the meeting in the White House, obviously.”
According to the Irish Times, the Taoiseach added: “I will take it as I would take any other meeting.
"We respect the President, of course, and the mandate he has, and we look forward to that engagement.”
According to the Irish Independent, the Taoiseach also said: “I’m not going to go into a kind of commentary on the blow by blow as to what will happen in the meeting on Wednesday.
“It’s a meeting primarily, in the first instance – the tradition is one of celebrating the Irish-American diaspora in the US, the incredible bonds that grew up through history. That’s the first thing.
“It’s a huge relationship and covers family, economics, culture, and so on like that.
“And then the economic relationship between the two countries that we will be really bringing home, the message that Ireland has been good for American investment in Ireland.
“Ireland has added value to the US companies that are located in Ireland.
“There will be a to-and-fro, no doubt, as there has been every year on various issues. But we’ll do it in a good manner and in a good way."
The Taoiseach will be in Texas until Tuesday evening when he travels to Washington, DC. His bilateral meeting with Trump will be on Wednesday, which will be followed by the shamrock ceremony.