Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)

I am of the view, and I am legally advised, that Chancellor Brown will not be able to introduce a scheme to allow Irish people have free travel in the UK and not extend it to those from France, Greece, Spain and the other EU member states. While the Irish Post might state it, Chancellor Brown will not be able to introduce the measure on the basis outlined by Deputy Stagg. Chancellor Brown will not be able to give Irish people free travel and make French people pay. That is the strongest advice given to me.

I know the Deputy long enough. It is naive to suggest that any Minister can introduce legislation and ignore the legal advice available to the Government. It is not doubtful advice; it is advice in the starkest possible terms. I have not given up on free travel. Deputy Stagg's comment that I am in some way opposing it is wrong. I am a champion of this. I advocate and support it. It is not a financial or political issue. We must resolve the legal issue. I will continue to seek ways of doing so.

One option I recently examined was introducing legislation to attach the free travel to the Irish pension, thereby automatically providing it to those in receipt of Irish pensions in the UK. It would not be discrimination because only our pensioners would receive it. I will continue to examine whether that is an option, although it will be difficult. I await the outcome of Chancellor Brown's efforts. I will inquire further into the scheme referred to by Deputy Stagg. I wish Chancellor Brown luck. I will be right behind him if he gets it through.

See this speech in context