Mr. Ronnie Millar:

There are three types of J1 visa programmes. These are: the J1 summer work and travel, which is a four-month programme; the J1 intern, which is 12 months' long and interns need a placement before they arrive in the United States; and the J1 Irish work and travel, which is a 12-month visa with which Irish students can land in the United States and have four months to find a placement. All J1 visa programmes were suspended in April 2021 and thousands of young Irishmen and Irishwomen have lost out on the opportunity to come to the United States over the past two years. However, the Unites States Department of State has ended this suspension of the J1 visa programme and moving forward, Irish students and graduates will now be able to apply for their visas. Travel restrictions and visa processing delays at the US Embassy in Dublin present uncertainty as to when J1 students will be able to commence their exchange visitor programmes and start their internships in the United States. The delay in processing has resulted in some prospective applicants becoming ineligible due to the programme timelines.

Employers here in the US are keen to resume hiring Irish graduates, especially for the 12-month programme. The summer programme has not occurred for the past two years because of Covid-19. Local businesses in areas such as San Diego, Cape Cod and Chicago are reporting a negative financial impact on all of the seasonal businesses that is directly related to the lack of J1 students available to work during the summer months.

The J1 visa programme has been an important rite of passage for tens of thousands of young Irishmen and Irishwomen. It contributes substantially to the transatlantic business and cultural relationship between Ireland and the United States. In fact, many of us, the coalition's board of directors, participated in the J1 programme. The programme is really a win, win, win. It is a win for Irish students who gain intercultural and international experience, for US businesses which are able to increase the seasonal workforce, and also for Irish businesses as these graduates can return to Ireland with skills and leadership and a more diverse and global mind set. We are really looking forward to the resumption of the programme and to being able to move forward.

I will hand over to Mr. Collins, who will speak about the impact of Covid on the undocumented community.