Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 302: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position of the working holiday programme that was recently signed with the United States; if the application method has been agreed upon; if so, if any of the first visas have been issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44733/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the United States Deputy Secretary of State, John Negroponte, and I signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a new Working Holiday Programme between our two countries in Washington on 24 September. Since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, my Department, in consultation with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, has moved quickly to finalise arrangements for US citizens interested in working and travelling in Ireland. A comprehensive step by step guide and application form for US applicants has been prepared and distributed to our Missions in the United States. We are ready to begin accepting applications from US citizens, and will do so as soon as the US State Department has finalised its arrangements for Irish citizens.

At a meeting in Dublin on 17 November, I emphasised to Deputy Secretary of State Negroponte the need to ensure that the Programme is fully operational at the earliest possible date. The State Department has assured the Government that it is actively working to finalise its arrangements and will shortly complete this process.