Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

91. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52444/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The scheme to issue Working Holiday Authorisations (WHAs) is an important aspect of Ireland’s relationship with Canada. Ireland has a number of these reciprocal schemes with several non-European countries. These agreements support the development of people-to-people links, and create strong and lifelong connections between participants and the destination country.

The Working Holiday Agreement with Canada, in place since 2003, reflects the warm and close relationship Ireland enjoys with Canada. The scheme fosters personal, cultural and professional ties between our young people. Under the current agreement Irish people between the ages of 18-35 can apply for a visa, under the International Experience Canada programme, to live and work in Canada for up to two years. Each individual can avail of the working holiday arrangement only once and there are currently no plans to modify the existing agreement with Canada.

Initially when the reciprocal agreement with Canada was agreed in 2003, there were 100 places available each way. This number increased rapidly over the years to 6,350 by 2013 and then to 10,700 in 2014. Ireland continues to maintain this quota year on year. The same number of visas are available for young Canadian citizens to live and work in Ireland. In 2019 there were 461 working holiday authorisations issued by our Embassy in Ottawa for Canadians to come to Ireland under the scheme. We expect this number to increase in 2022 as post covid travel resumes.