Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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1053. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to hold meetings with the Minister for Justice and Equality regarding reviewing eligibility for tourism visas in view of Brexit. [34114/17]

Shane Ross (Dublin Rathdown, Independent)
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Ease of access is an important consideration for visitors from developing tourism markets. Tourism into Ireland has benefitted from initiatives such as the visa waiver scheme and the British Irish Visa Scheme. In respect of Brexit, one of the priorities from a tourism perspective is that joint visa arrangements with the UK are maintained.  My Department has emphasised the importance of maintaining the existing arrangements at various formal inter-departmental groups and groups that include stakeholders from outside the public service.  The visa arrangements matter has been discussed at the External Trade Council, the Cabinet Committee on Brexit, the Brexit Economy and Trade Work Group, the Brexit Common Travel Area Work Group as well as the Brexit Tourism Work Group.  Officials from my Department and officials from the Department of Justice and Equality attend these fora.

As the Deputy is aware, eligibility for travel visas is the responsibility of the Minister for Justice and Equality. My officials are in regular contact with that Department in respect of visas from a tourism perspective. For example, on July 11th, officials from my Department and Tourism Ireland attended a working group meeting on visas at the Department of Justice and Equality, with particular emphasis on visa arrangements for China. Further meetings of this Working Group are planned to discuss issues in respect of visas.