Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

Question 3: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will extend free travel to older Irish emigrants, at the very least to Irish pensioners living in the UK, when they return here on their holidays in view of the fact that a common travel area has always existed between Ireland and the UK which predates the formation of the EU, thus meaning no discrimination against other EU citizens; and his views on whether there is no legal, moral or financial impediment to grant this concession to emigrants in view of the fact that they are already in receipt of an Irish pension and in further view of the recent announcement that Irish persons abroad will receive the President's 100th birthday cheque. [17718/06]

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