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The Taoiseach told US President Barack Obama that Ireland will be heavily involved in lobbying for reform of the American immigration system.

He made the pledge at the St Patricks Day reception at the White House, where he presented a bowl of shamrock.

While the annual presentation of the shamrock at the White House was a solemn affair for the Taoiseach, it was a more laid-back affair for the US commander in chief - who recalled his trips to Ireland.

"I remember my own visit to Dublin, Moneygall, and Belfast the unrushed landscape, the unrushed pint of black," he told the assembled press. "Waiting for that perfect pint is 90 seconds well spent."

The Taoiseach, however, had to focus more on the needs of the Irish and Irish-Americans in his audience, and referenced President Obamas recent moves to reform the immigration system.

"I can assure you this evening, Mr President, that we will add our voice to the many voices calling on this congress to pass immigration reform legislation as soon as possible," he vowed.

Alongside the shamrock yesterday, the Taoiseach also gave the President a book of poems from Yeats, some of whose poetry was inscribed in the bowl of shamrock.

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Ireland will lobby hard on immigration reform, Kenny tells Obama

Enda Kenny and Barack Obama meet ahead of a St Patricks Day lunch. Photograph: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said US immigration reform can only be achieved with courage and praised President Barack Obamas decisiveness on the issue.

Speaking in the Oval Office beside Mr Obama, following their bi-lateral meeting at the White House, Mr Kenny said visa waivers and related matters were discussed.

I would hope that at the end of the day that political leadership here in Washington, the greatest nationcan actually deal with this particular problem, Mr Kenny said.

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It can only be dealt with by having courage and leadership.

Mr Kenny said he hoped Irish people would be allowed to travel back and forth between the US and Ireland while on the road to legitimacy.

So we hope that thedecisiveness of President Obama on this can bear fruit.

Mr Kenny described his meeting with Mr Obama as constructive and conclusive.

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US immigration reform requires courage, says Enda Kenny

Gushing with enthusiasm, Schumer repeatedly wished the McSorley's crowd, "Happy St. Patrick's Day month!"

Below you'll find him snapchatting with some new friends:

Amid several rounds of "light" beer (Schumer preferred "light" to the bar's only other option, "dark") the senator sat down with CNN to discuss his love for the Irish, St. Patrick's Day and the certainty of immigration reform in 2017.

As a Jewish American, Schumer was awarded Brooklyn's 'Hibernian man of the Year" in the early 1980s for his support of Irish immigrants.

"Only in America could the Hibernian man of the year be given to Chuck Schumer!" he proudly quipped.

The senator also added a provision to the Senate's comprehensive immigration reform bill he helped author to change a 1965 immigration law that restricts visas for European nationals. The change would make 10,500 renewable visas available to Irish immigrants each year.

"I love the Irish!" Schumer exclaimed, pausing to cheers the owner of ale house. "They are a people-loving people."

According to the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, there are roughly 15,000 undocumented Irish immigrants living in the greater New York City area, and 50,000-60,000 nationwide.

Schumer's bipartisan immigration bill with Republican Sen. John McCain charged through the Senate in 2013 -- but in the House? Not so much.

When asked what he says to Republican House Leader John Boehner -- who declined to bring the measure to a vote in the House -- Schumer said, "I say to [him] that if you love America, you will pass this bill."

Excerpt from:
St. Patrick's Day bartending with Chuck Schumer

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