James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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256. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will the reinstate the working holiday authorisation in view of the reopening of international travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35866/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Working Holiday Authorisations (WHAs) play an important role in building Ireland’s bilateral relations with countries and regions with which we have reciprocal programmes. As Minister, I am fully supportive of the objectives of the Working Holiday programmes and I welcome their important contribution in promoting people-to-people contacts and providing opportunities for our young people to travel and experience other cultures.

While it has been necessary to temporarily cease the operation of these programmes since the onset of the pandemic, I am keen to see them resume once circumstances allow. A primary concern remains the health, welfare and well-being of those young people who would seek to travel to Ireland on a WHA.

In current circumstances, particularly in light of public health guidance and the aims of the various WHA programmes, it would not be safe or prudent to re-commence operations. However, the Department will continue to monitor the situation in Ireland in conjunction with colleagues in other relevant Departments, with a view to re-opening these programmes as soon as circumstances allow and with consideration also to when reciprocal opportunities are available to our own citizens.

We continued to monitor the evolving situation here and in the relevant locations abroad, in terms particularly of public health advice, travel restrictions, job opportunities and the availability of short-term accommodation. Our Missions abroad will be instructed to resume programmes when circumstances allow young people to benefit safely from a working holiday here and to fully experience Ireland’s culture and way of life. A public announcement will be made as soon as operations resume and our Missions will be asked to promote this news on their social media.