Vol. 562 No. 1
303 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the circumstances outlined by a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; the position regarding this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5569/03]
I am aware of the circumstances outlined by the person concerned relating to the difficulty he has encountered in applying for a visa to enter Colombia. On 1 November 2001, the Colombian Ministry for Foreign Affairs notified the Department of Foreign Affairs that Irish nationals travelling to Colombia, including those travelling as tourists, would henceforth require a visitor's visa to enter. I appreciate that this arrangement, particularly the requirement to attend for interview, is inconvenient. In the circumstances, the Department will raise with the Colombian authorities the possibility of their dropping the requirement for interviews, especially in the case of those who have been travelling to Colombia over the years and are personally known to the Honorary Consul.
Colombia is one of many countries that Irish citizens require a visa to visit and, at present, Colombian nationals travelling to Ireland also require a visa to enter this country.
