Jim O'Keeffe
Question:23 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on the proposal to establish a senior euro card; and the proposals, if any, he has to encourage its introduction. [23591/99]
Priority Questions. - Senior Euro Pass.
The report "Towards a Senior Euro Pass" was commissioned by the Social Affairs Directorate of the European Commission and was undertaken and published by Age Concern England at the end of 1997. It recommends that EU states should establish a senior euro pass card that would entitle older people to concessions on various services, including travel, cultural and social activities. Age Concern noted that the senior euro pass is about "citizenship and about the civil challenge of providing a social environment wherein older Europeans would be more effectively mobilised to live enhanced lives of constructive leisure".
Age Concern envisages that each EU member state would create its own euro pass agency under the auspices of a central euro pass secretariat which would be funded by the EU Commission. It suggests that national euro pass agencies be financed by paying an annual or once-off charge for the use of the senior euro pass and/or charging service deliverers for the use of the euro pass brand and logo. The report "Towards a Senior Euro Pass" was circulated at the Meeting of Contacts Points Group on Older People in Brussels in December 1998 with an informal invitation to submit observations.
The issues involved are complex as the range of concessions envisaged cover a wide range of agencies and activities. Each EU member state operates its own scheme of concessions for older people. These schemes operate both in the private and State sectors. For example, in the travel sector, a variety of travel concessions are granted by most EU member states to retired pensioners. The scope of these concession schemes and the reductions available vary widely from country to country. CIE participates in the rail-Europe senior scheme which gives concessions to those aged over 60.
The role of my Department in matters relating to the senior euro pass is to submit observations in conjunction with other Departments, statutory and non-statutory bodies on any action taken to implement the proposals of Age Concern England in this report in so far as they affect the business of this Department. The administration of the euro pass itself is outside the remit of my Department.
Does the Minister accept Ireland should take a leading role in pressing for the introduction of a senior euro pass in the interest of our citizens and the diaspora?
I agree it is something of which, in principle, everyone is in favour. However, as I said, it is a complex area and the issue must be dealt with on a European basis. Many of the difficulties stem from the fact that some countries do not have any travel concessions for older people while other countries, like Ireland—
I accept all that – I compiled a report in that regard.
—have quite substantial ones.
It can be done.
This country probably has the best record in Europe on travel for older people. I agree with the Deputy's point in principle – that it is an issue which should be processed. My Department is not involved in the administration of the pass but we can do whatever we can. The issue is being raised at EU level.
This is covered in my recent report. The Federation of Irish Societies in the UK has, for a long time, pressed for the extension of our free travel scheme to returning Irish emigrants. Does the Minister accept that while it is not possible to implement this under EU law, per se, if the euro pass is established, that objective would be achieved in the process?
I have met many of the groups representing Irish people living abroad who want this concession when they return. There is a difficulty with this because of the restrictions placed on us by EU legislation and the fact we cannot discriminate in favour of one nationality. The way around this is the establishment of the euro pass. However, that is a broader issue which must be taken up at EU level.
I hope the Minister will stir himself on this issue and take a lead on behalf of the country. My report suggested that as an initial step we would try to establish a scheme to provide for reciprocal travel arrangements for the elderly throughout the island of Ireland. I suggested that if the Good Friday Agreement and the peace process come to a successful conclusion, one of the first jobs of the cross-Border bodies should be to take this issue on board. Does the Minister support this as an initial step which would have wider benefits than the establishment of a euro pass and which, therefore, should be undertaken immediately?
Like every Deputy, I would love to see free travel throughout the island of Ireland. As the Deputy said, hopefully when the cross-Border bodies are in place, efforts can be made in that respect. However, confining the concession to Northern Ireland pensioners would be contrary to EU law. That is the difficulty at present.
It would be a bilateral arrangement.
Perhaps as matters evolve and political structures are, hopefully, put in place in the North, something else can be arranged in this regard.
Will the Minister arrange to have it discussed by the cross-Border bodies?
As the Deputy knows, there is already a concession for travel North and South of the Border.
I know that. I am disappointed the Minister has taken such a laid-back approach.