Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 201: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider including citizens travelling from a country (details supplied) on the short-stay visa waiver programme schedule 1. [30652/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Visa Waiver Programme applies to holders of certain types of UK short stay visas from sixteen selected countries. This pilot programme allows persons who are in possession of the relevant type of UK visa and who have been granted permission to enter the UK on foot of that visa to also travel to Ireland without the need to apply for an Irish visa. The programme, which was announced as part of the Government's Jobs Initiative, is mainly targeted at those travelling to the UK on short stays who might wish to include a short visit to Ireland as part of their overall journey.

I am committed, as I stated at the launch of the programme, to carry out a review of the programme's operation. This review will be conducted in conjunction with the tourism industry and carriers to assess the impact of the scheme, the result of which will inform any decision on whether to extend the programme either in terms of its time frame or the citizens who may avail of it.