I am aware, as are most of my colleagues, of the Taoiseach's genuine concern for the thousands of young Irish people in the United States at present who are regarded as illegal immigrants and are, if you like, only one step ahead of the posse in order to remain. Would the Taoiseach reinforce his efforts to get an amnesty for these young people, many of whom — through taxpayers' efforts here — have professions which would be very valuable in the States, have employers prepared to employ them but, because they cannot get work permits, are working in bars and other places not suited to their qualifications? As the Taoiseach well knows the United States ——

I cannot allow Deputy Glenn to make a speech; I am sorry.

Would the Taoiseach reinforce his efforts on behalf of so many of these young Irish people who are at present living in great distress?

Would the Taoiseach care to reply to his Deputy before ——

In reply to the substance of Deputy Glenn's question, I accept the genuineness of her concern about the problem, and we are concerned about it, but what we have to consider is the extent to which raising a question about amnesty with the United States authorities would be likely to be helpful in the circumstances. I certainly am giving consideration to that. As I said, it is a matter that came up in my discussions with Irish-American organisations there. We have to make a judgment on what might be the best way to proceed in that matter in the interests of the people we are talking about here.

What is wrong about raising an amnesty? It was raised before by the Americans themselves.

It is one thing for the Americans to raise a question about amnesty for illegal immigrants generally but it is another thing for the Irish Government to draw particular attention to young people there in a manner that might be inimical to their interests, as they perceive them, which the Deputy does not seem to be very concerned about——

Everybody knows the situation. The Government prefer to do nothing about it, as usual.

Would the Taoiseach say what is his Government's estimate of the number of such young people now residing in the United States?

I have already answered that. In the nature of things, there are no figures——

I asked for an estimate.

There are no statistics of people who are illegal immigrants in any country——

I asked for an estimate.

I am not aware of any estimate of the number. I have never heard of one, nor am I aware of any source of one, so I cannot help the Deputy on that.

Would the Taoiseach agree that there are now 40,000 young people——

That figure would be very improbable because there is no way in which the number could be of that order of magnitude given the fact that the total flow of people emigrating from the country that we know about is so much smaller than that. For example, the labour survey of 1983 showed the total number of school leavers emigrating at 1,500. Therefore the Deputy's figures are completely——

A Cheann Comhairle——

I allowed the Deputy two questions. I am calling on Deputy Manning.