asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will request the United States authorities to extend to Ireland the concession for Irish tourists to the United States to travel there without visa on the basis that (a) US visitors to Ireland do not require a visa and (b) UK tourists with a return ticket will not require a visa to enter the United States from 1 July 1988.
Written Answers. - US Visa Regulations.
55.
We have been in contact with the US authorities on the matter since the enactment of the Immigration Reform and Control Act, 1986. Section 313 of this Act provides for the establishment of a visa waiver pilot programme for visitors to the US from certain countries. The purpose of the programme is to lighten the work-load of certain US diplomatic missions abroad by waiving the requirement that holiday and business visitors obtain a US visa.
Under the Act the scheme can be introduced on a pilot basis only in respect of countries which have a low rate of holiday and business visa refusals. Continuing qualification depends on a low rate of exclusions from admission to the US and on a low overstay rate in the United States on the part of those who benefit from the scheme.
In implementing the scheme, the US authorities are giving priority to countries where the volume of holiday and business visitors is large (over 1 million) and where there would be a significant saving in embassy resources. It has not, so far, been implemented in relation to Ireland. We understand that, in comparative terms, the volume of visa business handled by the US Embassy at Dublin is seen as relatively low and the US authorities consider that the savings resulting from a visa-waiver arrangement would be small. We are, however, continuing our discussions with the US authorities in the matter.