Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the status of the recent agreement between Ireland and the United States for a one year J- Visa which will allow Irish people to work in the United States; if this arrangement is to be reciprocal, to allow American citizens to work here; when he expects this scheme to be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31680/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Government continues to attach the highest priority to finding a solution for our undocumented citizens in the United States. At the same time, we have also argued that the long term strength of our bilateral relationship with the United States would benefit greatly by the establishment of new immigration arrangements which would facilitate greater legal migration between the two countries, an approach which was endorsed in the all-party motion passed in November 2007.

In this context, we have this week concluded a new Working Holiday Agreement with the United States that will enable a minimum of 20,000 Irish citizens each year who are in, or have recently completed, post secondary education to work and travel in the United States for up to twelve months. The new Working Holiday Agreement is reciprocal; under its terms, up to 5,000 US citizens will also be able to work and travel in Ireland on the same basis. The Agreement is due to come into effect in late 2008. Further detail on the terms of the Agreement is available on the Department's website, www.dfa.ie .

The Agreement is a significant development in our visa arrangements with the United States. Its signing is part of a three pronged set of objectives which I have been advocating during my visit to the United States this week , the other elements being our efforts to seek a solution for our undocumented citizens, and also new bilateral arrangements to provide long-term visas for Irish people wishing to work in the United States.