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Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore and the Hon. Jason Kenney, M.P., Canada’s Minister for Citizenship today announced substantial enhancements in the Ireland Canada Working Holiday Programme. The announcement will see the number of visas available for Canadian and Irish participants double to over 10,000 by 2014 and see the length of stay extended from one year to two years.

The Tánaiste welcomed the new programme saying:

This programme is not just about short term emigration. Canada is one of the biggest investors in Ireland and Irish companies now employ 60,000 people in Canada. This new generation working holiday programme will continue to facilitate economic ties between Ireland and Canada.

Minister Kenney is in Dublin to meet the Tánaiste and to attend the Working Abroad Expo Recruitment Fair in support of a number of Canadian companies participating in the exhibition.

Mr. Kenney said:

Relations between Ireland and Canada are already close, based on shared cultural and democratic traditions. The expansion of the International Experience Canada initiative will create new economic opportunities and further strengthen the bonds between our countries, ensuring that our longstanding partnership endures well into the future.

Read the full press release

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