Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

Any Government would wish to bring as many tourists as possible to the island. We are not part of the Schengen Agreement, mainly because the UK is not part of it. If Ireland were to be party to the Schengen Agreement without the UK, this would mean border controls in the constituencies of Deputy McHugh and myself. He would not want us to have this because it would do away with free movement North and South as a result of the Single European Act, EU legislation and the reduction in violence on the island.

Regarding those coming from countries outside the countries nominated in the various items of legislation, the Immigration Act 2004 contains an order in respect of visas for 2009, setting out the classes of people required to obtain an entry visa. Those coming in from states outside the EU and the EEA are required to hold visas, as is required for most countries in the world. I do not see how we can change this because we are similar to most other countries. We must be conscious of what is happening across the water with our neighbouring island.

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