Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In answering the Deputy's question, we have to be conscious of EU law. We have to make sure that all persons within the European Union are treated equally. The exemption cannot just be available for an Irish citizen within the European Union. Again, I do not know the details of whether the person is within or outside the European Union. It might be better if I get the details and am able to explore it with officials in the Department. I do not propose to have any deviation from the three out of five years. Deputy Stanton will appreciate that. I appreciate that education at third level is expensive on parents and students. It is also very expensive for the Exchequer. There are many people outside and within the European Union who are Irish citizens and have not been domiciled here for three out of the past five years. There would be an obvious impact on the Exchequer. We have to be conscious of that.

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