MEPs-How many Irish will (dare to) vote on Thursday 15 Nov?

[monsieur]

Just how many of our MEPs will find other 'pressing business' to attend next Thursday at 11hours (Dublin time) to absent themselves from Parliament as the vote on real freedom of movement within our Union for the new nine takes place.....

How many were in attendance for the debate on Tuesday is unknown so far.....do watch the archived debate with Brian Crowley that began at 15h and ended at 16.00 with a contribution from Mairead McGuinness later in the afternoon.

See link to Parliament below

It is time for the vociferous No No No people to Schengen to make themselves known so that Ireland can really let Europe know what we stand for. After all the MEPs have to reflect the opinions of those who elected them.

So if we don't believe in the concept of freedom of movement for selfish insular reasons then why say YES to the nine who entered our Union so proudly in Dublin on 1 May 2004?

Once and for all the Northern Ireland issue is a ridiculous red herring not worthy of consideration......and if it is a problem let the European Commission/Schengen deal with it.....and find the solution.

So lobby lobby lobby your MEP.....tell her/him what you think of the certitude of being refused entry to France because of a problem you might have encountered in Latvia a few months before........ what you think of having to ask the Spanish twice for permission to land in their section of Schengen....thereby relegating you to the new third class status.

And above all if you are pro Schengen then do advise all Irish leaders not to attend any celebrations, out of embarassment, to take place on Schengen Eve/Day......starting with Bertie who will looking for his free cup of tea and a biscuit.

Link

[woodie]

To be honest Monsieur I'm interest in European issues and try to follow them as best I can but I've absolutely no idea what you're on about?

[monsieur]

See letters over the years and the editorial and article on Schengen in the Irish Times yesterday also use google.ie ... google.co.uk ...... google.fr and more to find references to Schengen / freedom of movement

Last but not least search for Schengen in politics.ie

[woodie]

What's on next Tuesday?

[The Red Rose of Cork]

I thought the Schengen debate was on at the Euro parl today ?

[Munion]

Are you inviting us to some sort of party in your house next Tuesday?

Cos i'm free and i'll bring my own beer.

[monsieur]

What's on next Tuesday?

If you return to edited original post you will see the link to European Parliament.....

[monsieur]

I thought the Schengen debate was on at the Euro parl today ?

Sorry to you and all readers...........the debate took place yesterday, Tuesday, but the vote is tomorrow.

[Catalpa]

I've traveled across countries in both eastern and western Europe since the 1960's and rarely found it a problem so I can't see what the fuss is now.

I can see a big problem though if we further relax our right to monitor those who arrive here in this State and cannot refuse entry if we deem it necessary.

We should retain this right oursleves and strike a deal with the Brits over cross Border travel.

An All Ireland Immigration Service seems the logical way to go.

[dealmachtigeier]

I've traveled across countries in both eastern and western Europe since the 1960's and rarely found it a problem so I can't see what the fuss is now.

I can see a big problem though if we further relax our right to monitor those who arrive here in this State and cannot refuse entry if we deem it necessary.

We should retain this right oursleves and strike a deal with the Brits over cross Border travel.

An All Ireland Immigration Service seems the logical way to go.

I don't really see the differ between shackling ourselves to a UK border system and shackling ourselves to an EU system. A system is a system.

Monsieur posted a link to a House of Lords debate on the merits of Schengen and SIS II last week wherein the Lords seemed to give the impression that the UK govt wanted to be part of SIS II as much as possible insofar as it is beneficial to them practically. Only the Conservative peers voiced objection on political principle; and i was surprised this wasn't the same for more of them. I had the impression that were it to be politically expedient a majority of the current Lords majority wouldn't have much of a problem signing up to the entire Schengen acquis, eventually.
If my impression of the debate is true, even to an extent, then I'd be hesitant about our going along with the Brits because that's what we have to do without publicly throwing our hands in the air in exasperation at having to go along with the Brits (if that's proven to be in our best interests at the end of the discussion).