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Justice Minister Alan Shatter today announced Ireland’s first formal Visa Waiver Programme as an integral part of the Government’s Job Initiative.

This Programme is a major change in public policy in the immigration area. It is designed to assist in the promotion of Ireland as a quality tourist destination for markets which hitherto would not have been regarded as traditional source countries for tourism to Ireland.

Speaking at the announcement this evening, Minister Shatter said...

“our economic difficulties also present us with opportunities; it gives us a chance to take a fresh look at what we do and how we do it. Dismantling barriers which act as a disincentive to potential and sought after visitors is a case in point. This Visa Waiver Programme is a very significant initiative in the area of visa liberalisation. It will have real and tangible benefits for the nationals of the 14 or so countries (who currently require a visa to come here) participating in the scheme and it will provide a much needed shot in the arm for the hard pressed tourist industry which accounts for such significant employment in the State. Last year approximately, 30,000 people were issued visas from the participating countries to come here; those visitors helped to provide and maintain jobs in our economy. With this measure we anticipate that we can grow this market and thereby generate more jobs.”

Details of the Programme

Nationals of 14 countries - who ordinarily need a visa to enter the State

(at a cost of €60) - who obtain a visa to enter the UK for a short term

visa will not, for the duration of the programme, be required to obtain a

visa for Ireland. In addition, special arrangements will be put in place to

facilitate visits by nationals of these 14 countries who are long-term

residents in the UK. The Programme will be implemented on a pilot basis

until the end of October 2012.

A new statutory instrument is being drafted to give effect to the Programme

with a start of the 1 July 2011.

The practical effects of this initiative are:

· Individuals who avail of the Programme will not be required to pay

the visa charge of €60 per person. For example, for a family of four,

say from India, which travels to London for the Olympics next year

and which would like to have a ‘side-trip’ to Ireland, participation

in this Programme will result in a saving of €240 to them.

· Participants in the Programme will not have to go through the

inconvenience of submitting detailed financial and personal

information in connection with the visa application. Tourist bodies

report that this duplication of administrative paperwork acts as a

significant disincentive to short stay visitors and for the

development and marketing of Ireland as an “add-on” destination.

· Last year alone, Ireland approved approximately 30,000 applications

for visas from nationals of these countries. However, hundreds of

thousands, if not more, of these nationals visit the UK as tourists

every year.

· This Programme is designed to make it very attractive for these

visitors to the UK to consider Ireland as an “add-on” element to

their planned holiday. Even if a small proportion of these UK

visitors decide to come here it will make a real difference to our

economy and for job opportunities for our people.

Speaking at the launch Minister Shatter said...

“This initiative is taking place in the context of the Common Travel Area between Ireland and the UK - a cornerstone of the significant relationship across the entire spectrum of

our shared interests in economic and social policy, as well as in trade cultural and security issues. Its existence is indispensable to tens of thousands of people on this island as they go about their daily lives; today's announcement will serve to further underscore that close relationship and our common interest in protecting, nurturing and enhancing it. The common travel area in good times and not so good times has delivered immense value to our nation. I see today's initiative as another significant step on that road.

My message today as Minister with responsibility for Immigration is

entirely consonant with that of my colleagues in the economic departments.

Ireland is very much open for business; the measures I am putting in place

are designed to ensure that we make it as easy as possible for the genuine

tourist or short stay visitor to come here to avail of the excellent world

class product we have to offer in the hospitality sector.

I am certain that the tourist industry which is such a major contributor to our economic well being and the provider of tens of thousands of jobs will avail of the exciting potential of this new departure in public policy in the immigration area.”

In conclusion, Minister Shatter said he will shortly be bringing forward

new proposals to make Ireland an attractive immigration investor

destination. These proposals are being worked upon at the moment and will

provide scope for further employment opportunities in due course.

Finally, the Minister said that his Department had recently finalised new

immigration procedures for cruise-liners visiting Ireland which will

facilitate the easy embarkation of visitors at ports of entry.