asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government will make representations to the US State Department to have Irish passport holders included on the visa waiver pilot programme in operation since July 1988 for citizens of the United Kingdom, Japan, France, Switzerland, West Germany, Italy and The Netherlands.
Written Answers. - US Visa Waiver Pilot Programme.
38.
As indicated in my predecessor's reply of 10 May 1988, the United States Immigration and Control Act, 1986 provided in section 313 for the establishment on a pilot basis only of a visa waiver programme for visitors from certain countries to the United States. 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. The scheme was introduced only in respect of countries which have a low rate of holiday and business visa refusals. Priority is given by the US authorities to countries where the volume of such visitors is large and where there would be significant savings in embassy resources. Continuing qualification depends on a low rate of exclusions from admission to the United States and a low overstay rate in the United States on the part of those who benefit from the programme.
Since the enactment of the above Act. the Government have been in contact with the US authorities about the possibility of Ireland being included in the programme. The volume of visa business handled by the US embassy at Dublin is however comparatively low and therefore any staff savings would be small. The Deputy can be assured that our discussions with the US authorities about this matter will continue.