Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I appreciate and understand what the Taoiseach said about carriers having introduced new requirements regarding identification and so on in recent years, but this change in our relationship with our neighbouring island is dramatic as it will impact on the ordinary citizen. It is probably far more dramatic than many of the formal, diplomatic, institutional, intergovernmental things that have been going on for some years about which there has been a great deal of attention.

When did this proposal appear on the Government's radar? For how long has this been under consideration? Is this a UK initiated proposal or has there been negotiation on it and, if so, what negotiations have taken place between the Irish and British Governments in this regard? The Taoiseach stated in his reply that the UK authorities are keeping us informed. That is very good of them, we appreciate that, but I would have thought an issue of this magnitude, which will impact on the way in which we as individuals interact with our neighbouring island, would have been the subject of serious discussions between the Irish and British Governments. We have a major interest in this. An issue also arises in respect of the land border. I am interested to hear a little more about what has been happening in this regard.

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