By Georgina Brennan

ENDA Kenny, leader of Ireland’ main opposition party, Fine Gael, visited New York last Thursday on a whistle stop one-day round trip, and called for the formation of an all-island delegation to travel to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, June 28 to join with the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform (ILIR) in fighting for legalization of the undocumented.

“The coming weeks will be crucial in determining the fate of the tens of thousands of undocumented Irish in the U.S.,” Kenny said at an Irish American press briefing.

“Attempts to reconcile the widely different Senate and House bills will have a huge bearing on the future lives of these people. It will be difficult, but we will do whatever we can to assist that.

Kenny said that upon his return to Ireland, he would ask the government to send an all party, all-island delegation to support the ILIR day in D.C., and have one to one talks with congressional representatives and senators likely to be in conference on the issue.

“I believe that the ILIR lobby day should be supported by a delegation of public representatives of all parties both north and south who should engage in direct, focused lobbying of members of Congress,” he said.

Kenny said it was important to be involved in the debate even though the Irish had no control over the internal politics that have dogged the immigration issue in the U.S.

“I realize there are internal issues over which we have no control. What we need to do is have a focused lobbying effort,” he feels, adding that now was definitely not the time for anyone to lose hope.

“They are saying that there will not be a bill (for the president to sign) but they said that there would not be a bill out of the Senate and there was. It is a question of being involved. And not being seen to be out looking or demanding special treatment.”

The key, Kenny feels, is to show a united front and explain why America needs its Irish people to stay.

“Politicians are used to lobbying and to focused lobbying. We need to tell them that we are not looking for something for nothing,” he said, insisting that Ireland could offer America a partnership and real reasons that the Irish should be able to stay in America.

“They have made a huge contribution to the American economy and society,” he said.

Kenny shortened his trip to only one day after a major political dispute erupted in Ireland over the release of a paedophile from jail. He arrived in New York on Wednesday morning, and departed in the evening.

“I had arranged to meet people and I wanted to keep those arrangements, and people were kind and generous enough to change their plans for me,” he said.

During the day, Kenny spoke at the Ireland-US Council luncheon, and later met with New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and ILIR before being hosted by Ireland’s consul general to New York, Tim O’Connor.

“Between Dublin, London, Shannon and Dublin, I won’t have time to be jet lagged,” joked Kenny.

Responding to questions about Europe’s leading human rights watchdog accusing Ireland of colluding in the CIA’s controversial and illegal “extraordinary rendition flights,” Kenny said Fine Gael never supported using airports for rendition. The U.S. uses Shannon Airport, which has been a controversial issue among the Irish.

“We have close relationships with the United States but friends can differ on an issue. It is greater transparency that is to be supported,” Kenny said.