Peter Mathews (Dublin South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I commend my colleague, Deputy Flanagan, on introducing this very sensible Bill which addresses the operational clarity needed to make travel within the EU less confusing by having some sort of à la carteoperation. Ryanair is not entitled to operate an à la cartesystem. The EU has a family of about 500 million people. The object of the exercise is to allow people, subject to reasonable identification, to move around freely. This is as it should be. This is the way it is in the United States where there are 350 million people, in India, where there are 1 billion people, and China, where there are 2 billion people. For commercial companies to try to tailor an operational approach to an otherwise fair, reasonable and safe way of travel is wrong. It could be that the passport of somebody who is resident in Dublin does not match in all specifications the passport calibration of British passports, or vice versa. That could be grounds for further difficulties. That does not make sense if the person is easily and validly identifiable. It does not make sense for the Government to take a position against a very sound, safe, workable and clear proposal just because it comes from outside the family of a very strong majority Government. I ask the Government to do the right and sensible thing that will benefit our people and our partners across Europe, that is, to support and allow the passage of this Bill.

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