There will be no difficulty surrounding Santa Claus's permit to travel in Irish airspace this Christmas, the Tánaiste has told the Dáil.

Frances Fitzgerald was responding to the Chairperson of the Children's Committee in the House this afternoon.

Referring to the Irish Aviation Authority Act, Fine Gael TD Jim Daly asked if the Government had agreed a proposal this year to grant Santa Claus a permit for to travel around the country.

He said he had been contacted by concerned parents and children who are "keen observers of the new politics" in the Dáil, and "the tendency of Fianna Fáil to water down the Government's proposals".

Mr Daly said he had been asked to clarify if the Government had negotiations with Fianna Fáil on granting the permit.

He asked if Fianna Fáil had agreed a position on that proposal or whether they had insisted on "watering it down", which he said would result in "partial delivery" to households across the country.

The Tánaiste said there was no difficulty regarding Santa's permit this Christmas.