Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I join with the Chairman and the committee in welcoming and thanking the Minister. Having listened to the debate over the past hour or so, it occurs to me that most fair-minded people could not have envisaged the Minister producing such a very positive report even three years ago, when one considers the mounting challenges the Minister faced in one of the most difficult jobs in government. I am delighted the Minister included in her report a commitment to free travel. As she said, there was considerable speculation and a bit of a frenzy a while ago that free travel would be eliminated, so this is a very welcome inclusion in the Minister's report.

The Minister touched briefly on the whole area of combatting fraud. She has made a very significant effort, with considerable success in that whole area. What more can we do, or can the Minister give us a greater insight into what we can do? We hear so many stories about non-Irish people flying into the country, availing of social welfare in one form or another, including child benefit, and then leaving. How much of a handle has the Minister on that, or can she give us an insight into what more she has in mind?