James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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174. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the diplomatic efforts on the repeal of the Presidential Order under section 212 F of the Immigration and Nationality Act 1952; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28908/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The repeal of the Presidential Order under section 212 F of the US Immigration and Nationality Act 1952 is solely a matter for US authorities. However, ease of travel is vital to our economic relationships and for building connections across the Atlantic. Ireland is deeply committed to people-to-people links with the US. We will work to ensure that the restrictions will not have any long-term impact on existing channels of migration, exchange and tourism which benefit our countries significantly.

Although US immigration regulation is a matter for the US authorities, my Department has continued to encourage the US Embassy to maintain the processing of applications for exemptions to their travel restrictions for those travelling to the US for medical reasons. I have also raised the issue of resumption of travel between our two countries in my contacts with the US Administration, including during my meeting with US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, on Monday of this week. We agreed that it is important that we restore connectivity with the US, as soon as it is feasible, and safe, to do so.

My Department has a very strong and positive working relationship with the US Chargé d’affaires and her team at the US Embassy in Dublin. We continue to engage closely with the Embassy, and with the US State Department via our Embassy in Washington D.C., including with regard to travel, and the associated restrictions, between the two countries.

We are particularly keen that the current travel restrictions will not negatively impact the future of the J1 and Working Holiday Agreement programmes. I look forward to the time when we will work with the US again to promote travel between our countries, once COVID-19 crisis has abated, and in accordance with public health advice.