Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail)

Some 430,000 Irish people over 65 years of age will be entitled to travel free up to Northern Ireland and those from Northern Ireland will be able to travel free to the South. It will represent a great joining of people. It is a very commendable day in the history of the State to have free travel between North and South. It is a step forward and I commend the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan, on introducing the scheme. I ask that the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body discuss extending free travel to the Irish in Britain when they return here during the summer.