asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of visas issued by the American Embassy to Irish citizens to holiday in the USA in 1985.

The question of visas for the US is a matter for the US authorities. I understand, however, that the US Embassy in Dublin issued about 43,000 holiday visas in 1985. This figure includes short-term business trips as well as holiday trips, since no distinction is made between the two types of visa.

How many of the visitors actually returned here?

I would not have a notion. Obviously when their holiday or business visas expire they should in theory return, but I am not naive enough to think that they all do.