Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, to the House. It is good to have someone from the north west here.

This is a delicate issue and unfortunately I have had to resort to a matter on the Adjournment to have it addressed. I have been dealing with various departmental offices for the past three weeks. On the Order of Business in this House I raised the fact that one cannot make contact with various departmental offices, particularly those of the general immigration division of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. One can telephone the division on 01 6167700 on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 10 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. but nobody answers the telephone. Elected representatives should not have to resort to dealing with such matters on the Adjournment.

I call on the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to intervene in a case of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon who has been refused permission to remain in the State. The woman in question is married to a British citizen and under EU directives she should also be regarded as a British citizen.

This case could have serious implications if it means that every British citizen in Ireland is required to have private medical cover and is not entitled to a medical card. This is clearly not the case with other British citizens residing in this State. I would be grateful if the Minister of State would clarify this because there should be a pro rata agreement for Irish citizens living in Britain.

The situation has caused serious stress for the woman in question, who is partially blind. I hope that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform will look favourably on her application for naturalisation and not simply stamp "3" on her passport. She should be entitled to a medical card, to social welfare or to work in this country. The Department has been insensitive on this occasion because this woman would not be a burden on the State. She is a Canadian citizen, married to a British citizen, and the Department's actions could be construed as being anti-British, anti-EU and anti-Canadian.

I reiterate my disgust at having to raise this issue in the House on the Adjournment. I regard the decision as discriminatory and I wish to see it amended. I hope the Minister of State has some good news, not for me, but for a constituent of mine who feels slighted and hurt at the way she has been treated by the State.