asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of Council of Europe cultural identity cards issued in respect of 1979; if he has satisfied himself with that number; the plans, if any, to publicise the benefits of this facility; and if he will lay a specimen card, together with all the relevant details, before each House of the Oireachtas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cultural Identity Cards.
23.
The number of Council of Europe cultural identity cards issued by my Department in 1979 was 311. This figure does not include the number of cards renewed, which was 66. I am reasonably satisfied with the number issued and renewed bearing in mind the limited categories of persons eligible to receive the cards.
My Department have from time to time brought the benefits of the card to the attention of the various educational and cultural bodies likely to be interested. In order to make the card more easily available we are currently examining the practicability of having it issued by other organisations.
I am arranging to have specimen cards and copies of the regulations governing the issue of cards and of the facilities granted to holders laid before each House of the Oireachtas.
Does the Minister agree that the figure he has quoted is ridiculously low in view of the fact that for the first six months of 1979 a total of 6,900 such cards were issued by the Council of Europe and that generally in the United Kingdom 2,000 cards were issued per year?
I am grateful to the Deputy for the constructive spirit of his question and I should like to tell him that I shall pursue the matter along the lines suggested by him. I agree that the figure is too low and that it makes sense to allow other cultural and educational organisations, as well as my Department, to issue such cards. We will examine that matter.