A new American visa scheme which is being signed by Foreign Affairs Minister Micheál Martin this week will give Mayo people an opportunity and live and work in the US for a year, according to Fianna Fáil TD Dara Calleary.
“The new work-holiday visas will give a new generation of Mayo people the opportunity to live in and explore the United States for a long period, and will ensure that America joins Australia as a destination where young people can take a year out and learn from the experience,” said Deputy Calleary, the chair of the country’s largest youth political organisation, Ogra Fianna Fáil.
“In what is one of the most significant visa agreements between our two countries since the 1960s, an estimated 20,000 Irish people will be given the opportunity to experience life in America. In addition young US citizens will be given the chance to come and live in Mayo and other parts of Ireland.
“This programme is an important step towards ensuring the strong and historic links between the US and Mayo are maintained. It will ensure that socially, culturally and economically strong bonds will remain into the future.”
Minister Martin will sign the new Visa Agreement with the US Government in Washington this week. Details of how people can apply will also be made available from the Department of Foreign Affairs website at www.dfa.ie
“In addition the Minister has assured me that he will also use the opportunity to lobby strongly on behalf of undocumented Irish people living in the States,” added Dep Calleary.
“The Minister will be meeting senior figures on Capitol Hill and is also meeting groups lobbying on behalf of the undocumented. It is expected that the Government’s commitment to finding a solution to this issue will be underlined with the announcement of a further funding commitment.
“As a Mayo TD I will continue working with Minister Martin to try and find a solution to this issue and to ensure that undocumented people from our county will be able to travel freely across the Atlantic, without fear of being caught,” concluded Dep Calleary.
