Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Regarding the US pre-clearance facilities at Irish airports, I accept the bona fides of many Members of this House and those who comment on social media and elsewhere. As someone who has travelled extensively in America, I believe the removal of US pre-clearance facilities at Irish airports would hinder business. We must be careful to ensure we do not sever our economic ties with America. I welcome the Taoiseach's remarks in the Dáil this afternoon and yesterday pointing out that there will be a review of those facilities.

It is worth putting on the record that those facilities were used by 1.8 million people in Dublin Airport and 204,000 people in Shannon Airport. That includes tourists, business people and people visiting here from many parts of the world. It is an important facility. It allows people travelling to America to use the immigration service on this side of the Atlantic.

The important point is that Irish law continues to apply. That is a fundamental point. The Taoiseach's remarks and action in calling for a review of the pre-clearance facilities are to be welcomed. We must ensure that we do not in any way hinder the free movement and free travel of people. I very much look forward to that executive order being modified. We saw what happened since Saturday when there was a change with respect to green card holders. I am sure all of us who condemn what has taken place will work to ensure there will a continuing change in that executive order.

Senator Marie-Louise O'Donnell spoke about Westport House. I join her in congratulating the Hughes family on their €50 million investment in the house and on the retention of the jobs there. I pay tribute to the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, the Taoiseach and Mayo County Council for the work they have been doing. The Senator is right in saying that this is a national and a regional triumph. It is important that Westport House continues to provide the type of service it has provided in the past.

In the context of Brexit, I smile at the risk of provoking a row with my good friend, Senator Craughwell, who raised the matter, as did Senators Black and Coffey, and Senator MacLochlainn although I might be wrong on that. The Taoiseach was not in Queen's University yesterday engaged in a debate because he was in the most important place he could be, namely, Government Buildings with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom engaging in and discussing the issue of Brexit.