This article is from page 10 of the 2006-05-30 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
FAMILIES of undocumented Clare people living in the United States are being urged to attend a public meeting on the issue in Ennis on Thursday night.
The gathering is poised to boost support for the campaign for the thousands of undocumented Irish people living in the States.
According to Senator Timmy Dooley (FF), who has organised the event, the aim is to put together a catalogue of individual stories which may help to explain the difficulties being experienced by the families of the undocumented.
He is asking families at the centre of the issue to turn up and outline their stories.
“Personal details are not required and supporters can remain anonymous,” he said.
“This is an extremely serious and emotive issue for families who have sons or daughters, relatives or friends unable to return home for family weddings and funerals in fear of losing the life they have built in the USA,” said Senator Dooley.
“On the basis of the number of people who have contacted me, there should be a good turnout,” he added.
Deputy Tony Killeen (FF), who organised a similar meeting last year, said up to 100 Clare people living in the States cannot return home.
“There are between 80 and 100 people who really cannot come back and there are at least as many others who could come back. It does look positive for people who have lived there for more than six years, but you would be surprised at the number of people there less than six years,” he said.
Last week, the US Senate backed the Kennedy/McCain Immigration Bill, which would give more rights to the undocumented people living in the States. This has yet to go before the House of Representatives.
Fine Gael Emigrant Affairs spokesman Paul Connaughton, who led a delegation to the States last year to highlight the issue, said several Clare families are waiting for developments on the issue.
“2006 is the big year. It was felt since last year that if it didn’t happen by next December, there would be huge problems for all our emigrants in America,” added the Galway deputy. NEXT Thursday is D-Day for a series of new by-laws covering most of Clare’s best-known beaches.
Officials from Clare County Council have met with senior gardaí to discuss how the new laws will be implemented.
They apply to the beaches at Bishopsquarter (Ballyvaughan), Fanore, Doolin, Trá Leathan (Doolin), Lahinch, Whitestrand (Miltown Malbay), Spanish Point, Doughmore (Doonbeg), Whitestrand (Doonbeg), Carrigaholt, Brew’s Bridge (Kilrush), Ballycuggeran (Killaloe) and Mountshannon.
They’re intended to prevent littering, lighting of fires, removal of beach materials and protected species and what’s being termed as “nuisance”.
The laws also control the bringing onto and parking of vehicles on beaches, camping on beaches, trading, control of animals, commercial filming, and regulation on the use of motorised craft and of water sports activities.