Feargal Quinn (Independent)

I was not allowed to discuss the Schengen travel area yesterday in the debate on the Passports Bill because that was not the correct forum, but we should debate it. We need to re-examine our relationship with the Schengen area, which comprises 24 countries, because we have attached ourselves to only one. While that may have been the correct thing to do in 1990, since then the British have imposed a photograph ID control between our two islands. People from the North of Ireland will require photograph identification before travelling to Britain. We attached to Britain because the land border between here and Northern Ireland will probably cease to exist. It is not acceptable for us not to reconsider a decision made in 1990 and have an opportunity to travel around the 24 countries in Europe because freedom to travel is one of the elements of the Treaty of Rome. This is separate from the debate on the Lisbon treaty.

It may not be part of our job in Europe to propose a fixed Easter but I recently became aware that in 1975 Pope Paul VI argued for this. The churches in Europe would accept that we celebrate Easter on the second Sunday of April because in 30 AD the first Easter took place on 9 April. I am now an expert in this matter. We have, however, always linked it to the Passover, which is linked to the phases of the moon. All the European countries connected to the Western Church would accept that Easter should take place on the second Sunday in April if we agreed to it. This would have many benefits, including for tourism, energy and education. I do not know how we would go about doing this but it has a European element and our Minister of State with responsibility for Europe should consider the opportunity of raising it at European level where it would be seriously considered. This year Easter falls on 23 March and in three years' time it will fall on 24 April. That is a 35 day gap. Having it on a fixed date would have all sorts of benefits.