Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 September 2014
1206. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of any negotiations with the Canadian Government regarding the extension of the current time limit of two years on visas for Irish citizens working in Canada. [34196/14]
View answerThe Working Holiday Programme with Canada gives young people from Ireland and Canada the opportunity to live and work in the other country. The agreement reflects the excellent relationship we enjoy with Canada and contributes further to that relationship by fostering increasing personal, cultural and professional ties between our people. The arrangements for the Working Holiday Programme are outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding which was agreed between Ireland and Canada in 2003 and amended in 2012 and 2014. Negotiations on the second amendment to the MOU were conducted earlier this year and the Agreement was signed on 6 March 2014, in Ottawa. The latest amendment to this reciprocal agreement will allow more young Irish professionals and students to gain valuable work experience in Canada. The total number of visas available to young Irish citizens this year was 10,700, the largest ever quota for Irish applicants.
I am not, however, aware of any current plans to further alter the terms of the WHA.
