Friday 14 March 2014 15.32 Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told US Vice President Joe Biden about the frustration that Ireland feels in relation to the lack of immigration reform in the United States.
Mr Kenny is also expected to raise the issue during a meeting with US President Barack Obama in the White House later today.
Speaking at a St Patrick's breakfast at the vice president's residence, Mr Kenny said there is a frustration when people look at US elected representatives and wonder why they cannot do anything about it.
He said the 50,000 undocumented Irish in the US wanted a process of legislation to pay their taxes, pay their way, raise their families, travel home and travel back and contribute to the community and economy.
Mr Kenny said Irish people suffered disproportionately as a result of existing immigration legislation, in place since 1965.
He said Ireland would support any measures that would change that situation.
Vice President Biden thanked the Taoiseach for pushing for US immigration reform and for travelling around America to do so.
He also praised Mr Kenny for the austerity measures he had undertaken.
Mr Biden said that the Taoiseach "had the courage to make difficult decisions" and the "faith in his fellow countrymen to endure it".
He said that Irish people had weathered more than their fair share of hard times but had always come out the other end.
Mr Biden told Mr Kenny that under his stewardship, the Republic had lived through its toughest times since its establishment.
The two men will accompany President Obama later today at a lunch on Capitol Hill hosted by Speaker of the House Republican Congressman John Boehner.
There will be an official St Patrick's Day reception at the White House this evening, when the Taoiseach will make the traditional shamrock presentation to Mr Obama.
Elsewhere, the Migrants Rights Centre in Ireland is calling on the Government to introduce a scheme that would allow undocumented people living in Ireland to regularise their situation.
It said Government ministers will spend this weekend lobbying US politicians on behalf of the undocumented Irish in America, while ignoring the plight of undocumented people in Ireland.
Watch: As seen on TV - St Patrick's Day through the ages.
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