The UK government introduced secondary legislation in March to start to put in place its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) Scheme from Autumn 2023. Under the scheme non-Visa required nationals will need to obtain an ETA before travelling to the UK.
The ETA requirement will not apply to Irish citizens due to the Common Travel Area arrangements. Following extensive engagement by the Government with the UK government, the UK secondary legislation introduced last March also established an exemption for legal residents of Ireland.
This exemption is welcome. However, the fact that no exemption has been provided for international tourists who wish to travel from Ireland to Northern Ireland is a matter of significant concern for the Government and for the tourism industry, both North and South.
I once again raised the Government’s concerns regarding the UK’s ETA proposals with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at the most recent British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) in London on 19 June. I underlined that the successful promotion of tourism on an all-island basis is one of the standout examples of cooperation under Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement. I also emphasized that the ETA scheme presents particular risks to the tourism industry in Northern Ireland, given that a majority of international visitors travel to Northern Ireland via this jurisdiction.
Officials from my Department and the Department of Justice are in ongoing contact with UK Government counterparts on its planning for implementation of the ETA scheme. For example, concerns were raised about the scheme’s anticipated impact on tourism and travel on the island of Ireland at a Common Travel Area plenary meeting on 5 July.
The Government will continue to engage with the UK government on this matter.
