Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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219. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason there continues to be a stay on processing working holiday authorisation applications for Canadian persons wishing to travel to Ireland; when the processing of these applications will resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44281/21]

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 the United States, Canada and a number of other non-European countries and regions with which we have reciprocal agreements. As Minister, I support fully the objectives of the Working Holiday programmes and their vital contribution in promoting people-to-people contacts, and am keen to see the programmes resume, once circumstances allow.

Since the onset of the pandemic, we have temporarily ceased processing new applications under the WHA programmes in the United States and Canada. While the relevant missions in the United States and Canada continue to accept applications for WHAs, processing of applications is suspended until these two programmes can be safely resumed. Submitted applications continue to remain on file and will be processed once operations recommence.

A primary concern remains the health, welfare and well-being of those who would seek to travel to Ireland on a WHA. A number of public health restrictions remain in place in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Ireland. My officials continue to monitor the evolving situation here and in the United States and Canada, particularly in terms of public health advice, job opportunities and the availability of short-term accommodation, with a view to resuming the programmes.

Our Missions in the United States and Canada will be instructed to resume processing applications when circumstances allow young people to safely benefit 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 application processing resumes.