Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 366: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of short-stay visitors who ordinarily require a visa to enter this country who have been allowed lawful entry to Ireland without a visa from May to 14 September 2011, due to the short-term visa waiver programme introduced as past of the recent job initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25009/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The indications from the tourism industry is that the numbers of tourists entering the country has increased this year. This is very much to be welcomed and while it is difficult to attribute what proportion of this may be attributable to the Visa Waiver Programme I introduced earlier this year, the response from the industry as a whole to the scheme has been overwhelmingly very positive.

While the specific information sought by the Deputy is not maintained at ports of entry by the Garda National Immigration Bureau at this stage, I am committed, as I stated at the launch of the programme, to carry out a review of its operations. This review will be conducted in conjunction with the tourism industry and carriers to assess the impact of the scheme and the results will inform any decision on whether to extend it.