Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)

What discussions took place with our other EU partners about the opening of their borders? The decisions which have been made — I accept the Government's decision may have been forced on it — are contrary to the EU principle of mobility of labour. Can the Minister give the House details of the pressures which are being placed on other Governments to open their labour markets, so the impact on Ireland, the UK and Sweden will not be as great in the future as it has been in recent years? Surely the issue of the common travel area was central to the Government's decision. Why did the Government show such indecent haste in jumping to a decision within two hours of yesterday's announcement of the UK decision?

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