Vol. 483 No. 6
28 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the discussions, if any, he has had with his British counterpart with a view to liberalising travel arrangements for citizens of the British-Irish common travel area within the Schengen area and if this matter has been considered recently by the EU General Affairs Council. [18109/97]
The Schengen states operate a system of free movement within their territories and across the internal borders between them coupled with essential compensatory measures, including immigration checks at the Schengen external points of entry. Thus every person, whether a Schengen national, an EU national or a non-Schengen state, or a non-EU national, is checked on entry from outside the common Schengen area, by the immigration authorities of the Schengen state being entered, and if admitted is thereafter able to move freely within and between all Schengen states.
Since Irish and UK citizens enjoy the same freedom of movement within the Schengen area as citizens of Schengen states the question of liberalising these arrangements does not arise.
