Nora Owen
Question:32 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Justice if she will give details of the exact rules relating to passport control between EC countries.
Written Answers. - Passport Control.
The Single European Act inserted a new Article into the Treaty of Rome, Article 8A, which implied the free movement of goods, people, capital and services throughout the Community after 1992. At its meeting in Edinburgh in December 1992, the European Council took note of the fact that free movement of persons within the European Community in accordance with Article 8A could not be completely assured on 1 January 1992 because of political differences between member states. They took note also that the work necessary to achieve this result without creating dangers for public security and compromising the fight against illegal immigration, although having progressed, was and is still under way.
The European Council did, however, note that certain changes would occur during 1993 and that EC member states had made known their intentions to take various measures to lighten controls at borders on nationals of member states of the Community. They invited the competent Ministers to accelerate this work and decided to return to the issue at their next meeting on the basis of a report from Ministers.
The precise implementation of passport controls in the member states is a matter for the appropriate authorities of each State. In so far as Ireland is concerned, since 1 March 1993 there has been a reduction in controls on nationals of the member states of the European Community. Special immigration channels have been introduced to facilitate European Community nationals travelling from member states to Ireland. While there is no systematic check on European Community nationals, there is a requirement that they display their passports to immigration officers to show that they are entitled to use the special channels. Existing controls on non-nationals of member states of the Community travelling to Ireland from Community member states are being maintained.