The Irish in Britain, including those of Irish descent, make up a significant part of the UK population. Here, you will find news, entertainment, events, sports and features from the local Irish Post newspaper.

Ahern lobbies the US for immigration reform

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern has made 16 transatlantic trips to the US in two years to lobby for immigration reform.

Mr Ahern clocked up the air miles since he took up office at Iveagh House after a Cabinet reshuffle in September 2004.

The Minister said that the months ahead would prove vital in securing citizenship status for Irish illegals.

The government has renewed contacts with key US Congressional figures since the mid-term elections held recently.

Mr Ahern said: “I will continue my active contact with Congressmen, embassy and consular staff and will lobby hard for an acceptable solution to the difficulties faced by the undocumented Irish.”

He has just returned from New York where he met with Irish lobby groups including the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform which received 110,000 in government funding in 2006.

Members of Sinn Féin and the SDLP parties have also lobbied on the issue in Washington in recent months.