Ireland's Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Harris said he discussed the new social media vetting procedures for Irish students applying for US visas with the new US Ambassador to Ireland Edward Walsh in a meeting the pair had in Dublin on Monday, July 14.
The Tánaiste had previously said that he would raise the matter with the new US Ambassador after he arrived in Ireland.
According to the PA, Harris told reporters after his meeting on Monday that he had a "really good conversation" about student visas with Walsh.
“I think Ambassador Walsh knows the importance of the people-to-people connection between our two countries," the Tánaiste told reporters.
“I was making the point that we live in a country where young people have very, very strong views – as do I, by the way – on a lot of what’s going on in the world and they have every right to express those views.
“And freedom of speech matters and being able to freely express yourself – online, offline, through protest – is an important part of our democracy, and I know President Trump is somebody who I would imagine in his own country would champion free speech."
The Tánaiste added: “So we very much want our young people to continue to be able to articulate their very strongly held views on horrific issues that are happening around the world, but that shouldn’t deprive somebody from going on J-1.”
I was pleased to meet today with new US Ambassador Ed Walsh & to underline our strong support for EU efforts to reach a mutually beneficial agreement on trade & tariffs with the US.
We also discussed Northern Ireland, the Middle East, Ukraine & immigration issues. pic.twitter.com/bhqR6Db5fh
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) July 14, 2025
Harris added: “Ireland and the US have been friends for hundreds of years. It’s important we keep those connections going, and I wouldn’t like to see anything that causes apprehension for a young person travelling to the United States – and I just made that point to Ambassador Walsh.”
According to the PA, Harris said he and Walsh agreed to keep in touch on the matter.
Today I met with @SimonHarrisTD to discuss our shared priorities, history, and friendship. I look forward to working closely with him during my time on this beautiful island! pic.twitter.com/HkTsRXNt2i
— Ambassador Edward Walsh (@USAmbIreland) July 14, 2025
On June 23, the US Embassy in Dublin said that "all applicants for F, M, and J nonimmigrant visas will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all of their social media profiles to 'public.'"
Additionally, "visa applicants are required to list all social media usernames or handles of every platform they have used from the last five years on the DS-160 visa application form."
In Fiscal Year 2023, there were 6,904 J1 visas issued to people in Ireland.
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Responding to the US Embassy's updated advice last month, the Tánaiste said in part: "This decision has understandably caused deep concern, confusion and apprehension for young Irish people who may wish to travel to the United States."
The Tánaiste said he instructed his staff to engage with the US Embassy in Dublin and, more widely, the administration to ascertain and provide "as much clarity as possible" about the new arrangements, "particularly to those students who are due to travel in the coming months."
He also said he instructed officials to engage with third-level institutions and organisations that provide services for students who wish to travel to the US, also with the aim of providing clarity of the impact of the new arrangements.
He further said he would raise the matter directly with the US Ambassador after he arrived in Ireland. Walsh presented his credentials to President Michael D Higgins in Dublin on July 1.
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