Losing GOP presidential candidate Senator John McCain met with Irish Minister for Defense Willie O'Dea on Monday to discuss the issue of the Irish undocumented in the U.S. during a refueling stopover at Shannon Airport.

O'Dea said that the 40 minute meeting was productive and cordial. "Senator McCain has committed to raising the issue of the undocumented Irish with President-elect Obama on his return to the U.S.," said O'Dea.

The meeting between O'Dea and McCain was not publicized for reasons of security. McCain was on his way back to the U.S. after spending a week on a regional tour with Senators Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham, his colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

O'Dea replaced Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheal Martin at the meeting because he was on official business in Brussels.

McCain and O'Dea also spoke at length about the new U.S. customs pre clearance facility that will come into being at Shannon and other airports in Ireland next September.

The new operation was agreed last month between the U.S. government and Irish officials. It is believed that the new facility will speed up the process of entry for Irish citizens into the U.S.