Deirdre Clune (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to have the opportunity to raise the issue of visas for Chinese visitors to this country, whether for business or tourism. This issue was raised in the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade last week when the CEO of Asia Matters made a presentation to the committee on the potential for tourism and trade in Asia, and China in particular, in areas such as financial legal services, innovative technologies and food and drink technology. We were made aware of this last year when we had a visit from the new Premier of China to this country last year. There are also opportunities and huge potential in the areas of education, tourism and culture.

China is currently the fastest growing economy in the world and will soon become the world's largest economy. It is home to an estimated 535,000 high net worth individuals who will travel. The United Nations world tourism organisation has said that travel expenditure by Chinese people last year was ¤58 billion, making it a very important market for us. I acknowledge the fact that last year the Taoiseach extended the visa waiver scheme for Chinese tourists visiting Ireland until October 2016. This scheme allows Chinese visitors staying in the United Kingdom to come to Ireland without the stress of having to apply for an additional visa. However, the UK system is cumbersome. It involves a nine-page form being filled out, a visit to an immigration office in China - these offices are not widely available - the taking of fingerprints and eye scans. The system is quite cumbersome and the visa costs £80, 50% higher than for the Schengen countries.

We should consider the number of Chinese people visiting Europe each year. Some 600,000 visit France, 400,000 visit Germany and 200,000 visit the United Kingdom. Those who visit France and Germany are in the Schengen area and can travel freely within that area. A campaign taking place in Britain currently highlights the fact its visa system for Chinese visitors is cumbersome. It does not serve us well. We need to stand on our own in this regard. It was recommended at the committee last week that Ireland should be the first country to introduce a 90-day visa for all Chinese visitors. The days of believing that all these people want to do is come here and stay forever and dodge the system are gone. We should recognise that people genuinely want to come here to do business and they are very important for us.

The Minister will be aware that Professor Fan Hong, the director of the school of Asian studies in UCC, has strong views on the issue of visas and of how difficult and cumbersome obtaining a visa can be for visitors. This is an issue that we have the potential to resolve. We should be putting something in place that benefits us directly.