asked the Minister for External Affairs if he would state whether the Saorstát will be represented at the International Conference on Passports under the auspices of the League of Nations, at Geneva, on May 10th, 1926; and, if so, what attitude it is proposed to adopt towards the proposal for the total suppression of passports.
CEISTEANNA—QUESTIONS. ORAL ANSWERS. - INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON PASSPORTS.
The Saorstát will be represented at the International Conference on Passports by the Saorstát Representative at the League of Nations. He has been instructed to support all recommendations tending towards an eventual abolition of passports. It is considered unlikely that the proposal for the immediate total suppression of passports can receive serious consideration at present. That object can only be achieved by a gradual process of which the complete abolition of visas must be the first step.
May I ask if it is proposed that we should abolish passports and visas until we have an undertaking from the United States that they will also abolish them?
I stated that it was very unlikely any serious consideration can be given to their complete suppression.