Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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474. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when she plans to accept applications for guest visas for persons who are vaccinated and have evidence of vaccination in their country. [44422/21]

Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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475. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if extra staff will be deployed to her Department to deal with a backlog of applications of guest visas. [44423/21]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 474 and 475 together.

On 13 September 2021, the restrictions that had been in place since 21 March 2020, regarding the processing of short stay visas were lifted. The decision to temporarily cease processing short stay visa applications, except for cases that fell under the Emergency/Priority criteria, was made as a necessary interim measure to help reduce the spread of Covid-19 and protect public health.

As the pandemic situation continues to improve and international travel once again becomes a feature of our lives, it is important that people are able to travel here for short term purposes including family visits. The move to lift restrictions is in line with the next phase of the Government’s response to the pandemic, Covid-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting.

Any application accepted since March 2020 was processed immediately on the basis that it was an Priority/Emergency application.

Current visa processing times will differ depending on where the application is processed. It should be noted that some of our Visa Offices and Missions abroad will be working under local pandemic arrangements, which may be more restrictive than is currently the case in Ireland, thereby affecting opening hours and workplace attendance.