asked the Minister for External Affairs if he will again make representations to the British authorities to secure the removal of the restrictions on citizens of this country, particularly young men, travelling to England to visit friends; and if, in this connection, he will direct the attention of the appropriate British authorities to the fact that large numbers of English visitors are catered for all the year round in this country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Facilities for Irish Visitors to Great Britain.
I am not aware that citizens of this country wishing to visit friends in England experience any difficulty in obtaining permission to do so. As regards the removal of the visa restrictions, for the reasons which I explained in my replies to previous questions by Deputies Fogarty, O'Sullivan and Corish, I do not think that the representations suggested would serve any useful purpose.
The Taoiseach says he is not aware of any persons having been refused permission. It is true that young men who wish to travel to England on a holiday have been refused permission. In my opinion these young men are not associated with any organisation which would cause the British authorities to refuse them facilities to travel to Great Britain. They are young men who, because of their economy, have saved the price of a holiday. In view of the fact that quite a lot of English people spend holidays in this country I do not think that these young men should be denied the right to visit their friends in Great Britain. I ask the Taoiseach to inquire into the circumstances again.
I told the Deputy that I am not aware of any cases where people who wish to visit their friends in Britain were refused permission to do so. If the Deputy has particulars of any such cases and sends them on to me I will have them examined.
Very well.