Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. I can understand that far away countries may have drawn up their own local rules and, therefore, people travelling to such destinations would have to check the details. However, such rules should not be applied to Irish citizens travelling within the EU. It is outrageous to apply that rule to, for example, my friend who is going to Lanzarote for a week's break at Christmas. The difficulty is that travel agents are saying that is the rule, yet when people check with the Garda Síochána they are told it is not the rule. That is where the confusion arises. I understand the point the Minister of State is making — that the onus is on the passenger to clarify regulations when they are travelling — but anyone travelling from one EU state to another should not have to go through that nonsense. Once their passport is valid for the return date that should be the end of the matter.

We should examine the Schengen agreement as part of the wider picture. Ireland opted out of that agreement purely because Great Britain was not going into it. At this stage, however, we are well able to think for ourselves. We joined the euro without waiting for Britain to go in, so perhaps it is time to re-examine the agreement. The Minister of State could discuss the matter with his British counterpart to see if the issue could be re-examined to ensure that Irish citizens will not encounter such nonsense in future. This confusion should be removed.