asked the Minister for External Affairs what is the attitude of the Government with regard to Recommendation 375 on the abolition of visas for refugees, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 23rd September 1963; and what action the Government have taken, or contemplate taking, on it.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Council of Europe Recommendations.
19.
The various proposals made in Recommendation 375 are still under consideration in the Committee of Ministers' Deputies. As the Deputy is aware, visas have been issued free of charge to destitute refugees at the request of the Irish Red Cross Society and refugees are not subject to any special frontier formalities from which nationals of member countries of the Council of Europe are exempt.
20.
asked the Minister for External Affairs what is the attitude of the Government with regard to Recommendation 376 on the tasks of the Assembly of the Council of Europe in the present situation of European affairs, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 24th September 1963; and what action the Government have taken, or contemplate taking, on it.
The various proposals made in Recommendation 376 are under consideration in the Committee of Ministers' Deputies in the context of the decision of the Committee of Ministers, embodied in Resolution (63) 6, "To make full use of each of its Sessions to hold comprehensive discussions on the major political problems of European unification, in the light of the opinions expressed by the Consultative Assembly."
Pending the outcome of these discussions at the next session of the Committee of Ministers, I am not in a position to indicate the attitude of the Government in the matter.