Plea over visa demand for Champions League final

Irish fans travelling to Moscow for the Champions League Final should not require a visa, the Dáil heard today.

Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh said the time and cost of obtaining a visa from the Russian Embassy was unnecessary for a short mid-week visit to attend the game on May 21.

He said: “British supporters already get a waiver in relation to the visa.

“I don’t know if there are a lot of Chelsea supporters in Ireland, but there are certainly a lot of Manchester United supporters in the country.”

He called on Tánaiste Mary Coughlan to speak to newly-appointed Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin to address the issue.

“Can I just ask the Tánaiste to exert some pressure on your new Foreign Affairs Minister, to get a waiver for Irish supporters.”

Leas Ceann Chomhairle Brendan Howlin said the issue was not suitable to be raised during the Order of Business in the Dáil.

Mr Howlin asked Mr McHugh, who is a Liverpool FC supporter, to write directly to the Foreign Affairs Minister on the matter.