Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

Have all the options been examined? What about carrier liability? When I asked if consideration had been given to alternative means of deterring such persons from arriving in Ireland, the Minister in the package he sent to me last night referred to carrier liability arrangements designed to prevent the arrival in Ireland of persons without proper passports or visas. These provisions, however, do not apply to arrivals from the UK common travel area. We are an island nation. If we can secure co-operation from the UK to get this declaration about the Good Friday Agreement — and I would like to see similar co-operation on Sellafield and the Dublin and Monaghan bombings — can we not explore co-operation in carrier liability arrangements?

Women who are heavily pregnant are allowed to board aeroplanes. Can we introduce further restrictions in that regard? While I am sure Mr. Michael O'Leary and Mr. Willie Walsh will not wish to hear me suggest such a thing, is it not an option provided it can be implemented on an all-island basis?

See this speech in context