Vol. 447 No. 11
196 Mr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Justice the reason Ireland has not taken a decision similar to the Schengen States to abolish controls at frontiers within the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1373/95]
The position with regard to free movement of persons within the European Union is that discussions with our European partners are continuing with a view to ensuring that appropriate compensatory measures are put in place. The full implementation of free movement requires particular measures with regard to co-operation aimed at combating serious crime, drug trafficking and illegal immigration.
A number of member states of the European Union are party to the Convention applying the Schengen Agreement which is primarily concerned with the abolition of checks of persons and goods at their common borders. The Convention also contains extensive compensatory provisions in the areas of immigration controls at the external borders of the States party to the Convention and increased police and judicial co-operation. Ireland is not party to the Convention and, of course, does not have a common border with any member state which is party thereto. Any proposal to accede to the Convention would require detailed examination of the Convention having regard to the compensatory provisions mentioned above. In particular, the implications of such a proposal for Ireland in the matter of free movement of persons between here and the United Kingdom would have to be considered also.
