Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he raised the issue of immigration with US president-elect Donald Trump in his first phone call last night, writes Daniel McConnell, Political editor.

Speaking this morning about the call, Mr Kenny said the two leaders also discussed Northern Ireland during their ten minute call.

Despite his previous attacks on Mr Trump, Mr Kenny said the President Elect told him he is ready to do business with Ireland.

“He was looking forward to doing business with Ireland and I asked him specifically about Patrick’s Day and he’s looking forward to continuing that tradition over many years,” he said.

“And I confirmed to him that we would work very closely with the administration that he appoints in January. “And obviously we’d have a lot of discussion about the details that are important for us as pointed out yesterday in my letter to him and to the vice president, the importance of maybe putting immigration back on the administration’s budget, Northern Ireland, the peace process and so on,” Mr Kenny said.

In the Dail, Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald said seeking an amnesty for the undocumented Irish in the US remains an “absolute priority” for the Government.

She said that while any new Administration and Congress will take time to bed in, the Government will continue in its efforts to deliver a result.

She was responded to questions from Labour leader Brendan Howlin who said he and other politicians are already getting calls from concerned people.

Chicago based Senator Billy Lawless has in recent days hit out at the Obama White House for their abject failure to make any progress on the issue over the last eight years.