President Higgins congratulates Obama on his re-election

By ANTOINETTE KELLY, IrishCentral Staff Writer

Ireland’s Deputy Leader Eamon Gilmore has stated that the win by President Obama gives new hope for comprehensive immigration reform. Calling Obama a “good friend” of Ireland he stated that progress would be made on immigration reform and visas for undocumented Irish in the USA. Gilmore also said a stronger economic climate lead by the U.S. would help Ireland. “We are dependent on the American economy growing, so we have an interest in measures being taken that will expand the American economy and create jobs and improve trade,” he said. Fears about US multinationals being forced to repatriate profits were overblown, he said . “Although that was mentioned in his first term, it didn’t materialise at all. I think that is because there is a recognition in the US administration that investment is a two-way street,” Gilmore said on RTE’s Morning Ireland. Meanwhile, President Michael D Higgins has congratulated President Obama on his re-election. “The international community faces many daunting challenges and we look forward to your continued leadership and constructive engagement in the period ahead,” wrote Mr Higgins, a human rights campaigner. “The very close and warm relationship between Ireland and the United States has, with your help and encouragement, prospered during your tenure. “I am confident that, under your leadership, our bilateral relations will be further advanced during the next four years. “My wife Sabina and I send our warmest personal wishes to you and your family as you begin your second term.”

Read more: http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Irish-government-expresses-new-hope-for-US-immigration-reform-177626651.html#ixzz2BXymcBLV

Could Clinton become President all over again?

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Bill Clinton speaking at the Irish America Magazine Hall of Fame

Photo by Irish America Magazine

Former President Bill Clinton recently said that he could be eligible to become a candidate for the next Irish presidency.

The Irish Independent reports that while speaking with CNN’s Piers Morgan at the Clinton Global Initiative on Tuesday, Clinton said, “If I move to Ireland and buy a house, I can run for president of Ireland because of my Irish heritage.”

Similarly, Clinton also said that he could be eligible to run for president of France, “Any person anywhere in the world that was born in a place that ever was a part of the French empire, if you move to, if you live in France for six months and speak French you can run for president of France.”

Clinton was born and raised in Arkansas, which was bought from France by the U.S. as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

While Clinton admitted that the chances of him running for office in France are poor, he did poll well in a theoretical poll about his chances in France.

Between France and Ireland, it would seem more likely for Clinton to get involved with Ireland. He served as a vital part of the peace process in Northern Ireland during his run as U.S. President.

Clinton served as President of the U.S. in two successive terms from 1993 – 2001. His wife Hillary Clinton is currently serving as Secretary of State under President Obama.

Read more: http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Bill-Clinton-says-he-could-run-for-President-of-Ireland-in-2018-succeeding-Michael-D-Higgins-171772641.html#ixzz27mA1hiq3

As the Minister for Defence was late for his meeting with the Joints Chief of Staff Martin Dempsey visited the Seanad Chamber. It was a pleasure to hear him speak about the Irish Brigade at the flag underneath the Seanad Chamber.

It is hard to miss that there is a Notre
Dame/Navy football game going on here in Dublin.

There was not an
empty seat on the Aer Lingus 109 from New York to
Dublin last night as we joined the 35,000 mostly Irish fans who have flown from
America in an unprecedented pilgrimage.

If you saw more green and “Go
Irish” t-shirts per square foot than you’d see on St.
Patrick’s Day, then you knew you were on the plane to the game.

You
could hardly have missed it either as the Aer Lingus employees at the airport
were decked out in Notre Dame caps in a nice touch.

Not that Navy was
utterly outmatched. When the pilot announced as we closed in on Dublin that a
Navy battleship was steaming into Dublin port right underneath us, the cheers
for “Go Navy” were loud and raucous.

At the airport itself, Uncle Sam on
stilts, perfectly kitted out in his red white and blue was there to greet the
tired but eager fans as they poured off the plane.

A host of
photographers and TV cameras closed in on the Irish
Americans as they left the terminal. This game is big news here in Ireland
and a massive boost worth an estimated $100 million to the ailing economy.

A large Notre
Dame display in the main arrival hall at the airport added that extra touch
to the festivities. This game has been organized expertly down to the last green
balloon knot.

I had shared the flight with a couple from upstate New York
who compared their trip to Ireland with the Hajj to see Mecca.

Lifelong
Notre
Dame fans, Bob and Ruth Murphy were living the dream as the plane
decelerated and the Irish coastline came into view.

Neither had been to
the Emerald Isle before but had been there often in their dreams.
A sunny day sweeping away the wet weather that has plagued Ireland this summer
awaited them.

“Perfect,” said Bob as he gazed out the window, as his wife
slept. “A dream come true.”

The pilot announced that we were coming in
over Mayo where Bob’s ancestral people come from so he felt right at
home

At the Merrion Hotel, staff marveled at the enthusiasm and
child-like happy faces they were seeing these last few days.

Notre
Dame fans were in their second home and all of Dublin knew it.

The
game has taken over the city and tickets on the black market are changing hands
for $2,000.

The locals have embraced it. I had four messages from friends
here asking about tickets.

It will be a wonderful occasion, like no other
I have seen as the Fighting Irish take the field on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium
a mile or so from here.

We can hardly wait.

Read more: http://www.irishcentral.com/story/news/periscope/coming-home-with-notre-dame-to-dublin-a-trip-of-a-lifetime—-a-trip-to-remember-as-ireland-opens-its-heart-to-the-fighting-irish-167968446.html#ixzz253Mzf2ON

Irish among hundreds of thousands of undocumented applying to stay  legally

Irish children who came with illegal parents will qualify under new  presidential waiver

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Immigrants Daniel Nino, left, with his  mother Patricia Cara from Colombia, get help with documents and filling with the  Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals applications at Casa de Maryland in Langley  Park, Md., on Wednesday Aug. 15, 2012.

Photo by AP

Undocumented immigrants, who were brought to the US  as children, began applying for a deportation deferral action and a two-year  work permit on Wednesday.

An unknown number of Irish who came here at a young  age with their undocumented parents will apply.The Irish International Immigrant  Center in Boston will hold information sessions about the program on August 23  at 1:00pm, August 28 at 6:00pm, and September 17 at 10:00am. One Northern Irish family based in New Jersey welcomed  President Obama’s announcement which will see his administration stop  deportations and grant work permits for qualified undocumented young adults  currently living in the U.S.

“I was in shock,” says Malachy McAllister, whose two  youngest children, Sean Ryan, 24, and Nicole, 26, stand to benefit from the new  policy as they came to the U.S. when they were under 16.

The move comes as a result of the Obama  administration’s controversial immigration  program, called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Hundreds of thousands of  undocumented immigrants are expected to take advantage of the new policy, which  GOP nominee Romney could scrap if elected.

Lizbeth Mateo, (28), came here from Mexico with her  family when she was 14. A prime candidate for the program, she has high school  and college diplomas from California as well as evidence she has been in country  for more than five years.

“I have all of those documents, but, yeah, I still  have to apply and see if my application gets accepted,”  Mateo told NPR.

A Washington DC resident, she is eager to contribute  to her community.

“It only makes sense to make us part of the  workforce,” Mateo says, “and to give us a chance to really show what we can do  for this country, what we can do for the communities and what we can do to  rebuild the economy and rebuild the country.”

Applicants must meet the following requirements. -Born after June 15, 1981. -Entered the U.S. prior to age 16. -At least 15  years old at the time of filing the application. -Enrolled in school,  completed high school, were awarded a GED or were honorably discharged from the -U.S. military or Coast Guard. -Resided continuously in the U.S. from June  15, 2007 to the present. -Not in legal immigration status on June 15,  2012. -Not convicted of a felony, a “significant misdemeanor,” or three or  more other misdemeanors.

There is a lot of paperwork involved in the  application which costs $465 to file.

Rene Franco of Catholic Community Services of  Southern Arizona told NPR that they have received a lot of inquires.

“They speak the language like any American, so they  are really

Read more: http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Irish-among-hundreds-of-thousands-of-undocumented-applying-to-stay-legally-166385006.html#ixzz23jCir3fl