Irish passport holders will be allowed to travel to the US even if they are originally from one of the seven countries subject to Donald Trump’s ban, the US Embassy in Dublin has confirmed.

In a statement this evening, a spokesperson defended the President’s ‘Executive Order on Protecting the Nation from Terrorist Attacks by Foreign Nationals’ saying it “allows us to review current screening procedures, while protecting national security – our top priority when issuing visas”.

It noted that the US government’s national security screening and vetting procedures for visitors are “constantly reviewed and refined to improve security and more effectively identify individuals who could pose a threat to the United States”.

Significantly, the Embassy said: "The Executive Order does not restrict the travel of dual nationals, so long as they hold the passport of an unrestricted country and possess a valid U.S. visa.

“Our Embassies and Consulates around the world will process visa applications and issue non-immigrant and immigrant visas to otherwise eligible visa applicants who apply with a passport from an unrestricted country, even if they hold dual nationality from one of the seven restricted countries.”

There are no changes to the Visa Waiver Programme (VMP) which many Irish people travel to the US on.

However, as before the Executive Order, dual nationals of Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Sudan are not eligible for the Visa Waiver Program and must have a visa for travel. Such individuals may apply for a visa as needed at the US Embassy .

Dual nationals of Yemen, Libya, and Somalia and a VWP country may continue to travel under the VWP unless they have travelled to any of the seven countries on or after March 2011, in which case they must first apply for a US visa.

The issue of preclearance arrangements at Dublin and Shannon airports dominated discussions at Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting.

The Attorney General advised the Cabinet that the preclearance arrangements are fully above board.

Ministers heard that that the rules applied in relation to preclearance are matters for the US Government - after concerns were raised that the ban could be in breach with our constitution.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny told the Dáil today that he intends “to go to the United States to speak directly to the President” .

“We were those immigrants who first saw Ms Liberty out of the Hudson fog,” he said, adding that he would not leave 50,000 undocumented Irish “isolated”.

“It’s more important than ever that Ireland’s voice be heard here. We have influence and it’s important that we use it,” he said.

Mr Kenny came under pressure from Opposition parties to publicly speak out against Mr Trump, with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin requesting that he write to the President.

In response, the Taoiseach said: “Bans on the basis of religion are not morally acceptable.”

He said Mr Trump’s executive order “is not a policy of righteousness”, adding that he condemns torture and waterboarding.

In relation to the pre-clearance facilities at Dublin and Shannon airports, Mr Kenny said the Attorney General believes that no Irish laws are being broken.

“The Attorney General has confirmed that the issue in terms of the legality is a matter entirely for the United States courts,” he said.

Mr Martin said there was “no logic to the ban in terms of what it sets out to achieve”.

“US citizens have been responsible for the majority of the heinous acts carried out on US soil,” he said.

Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams also urged the Taoiseach to contact the White House to express his unhappiness with the travel ban.

He said the Government has to make sure that this “fundamentally unjust order is not used in Irish airports”.

Mr Adams, who has previously indicated that he would accept an invitation to the White House for St Patrick’s Day if one is issued, described Mr Trump’s policies as “racist” and “anti-women”.

Online Editors