Each year thousands of young Irish people work in the US on J-1 visas. I have done it myself, a happy summer in Boston many years ago. Generally, it is a very positive experience. However, things have changed drastically under US President Trump with the recent authoritarian announcement that students will have to hand over social media accounts. We are watching a major incursion on freedom of expression unthinkable in a western democracy. This week a young Norwegian tourist was detained by ICE at Newark Airport and sent back to Oslo. Why? He had on his phone a meme depicting Vice President JD Vance as a baby. It is extraordinary that this amusing meme depicting a public person would be used as an excuse to detain a young person for five hours and then deport him back to Oslo. I welcome the Tánaiste's commitment to raise this serious issue with the US ambassador but, as the line Minister for issuing visas, what can Deputy O'Callaghan do to reassure young people here who hope to travel to the US on a J-1 visa but are fearful of this treatment?

There is very little I can do about the US immigration system. I am trying to put rules on the Irish immigration system. I cannot control the US immigration system. It is regrettable that these new measures are being introduced by the United States. I welcome the fact that the Tánaiste and the Taoiseach have indicated that they think the measures are inappropriate. We will mention it to the US authorities. Hundreds of thousands - probably millions - of Irish people have a great time on J-1 visas. They are still doing it this year, they have done it in the past and I think it will continue into the future.

It is hugely concerning.