David Cullinane
Ceist:59. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the work carried out to date with regard to the common travel area post Brexit (details supplied). [18358/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 26 April 2018
Ceisteanna (59)
Freagraí scríofa
Maintaining the Common Travel Area has been a Government priority in the context of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The Common Travel Area is an important feature of the close relationship Ireland enjoys with the UK, with long-established bilateral benefits.
It means Irish citizens can move freely North and South, East and West, and live, work, study and access social benefits in the UK on the same basis as UK citizens. Importantly, it also underpins the citizenship provisions of the Good Friday Agreement. The CTA is an arrangement that is valued on both islands and the continuation of this arrangement is a stated objective of both the Irish and UK Governments.
I welcome Article 2 on the Common Travel Area outlined in the draft Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland which states that the UK and Ireland may “continue to make arrangements between themselves relating to the movement of persons between their territories”. This is an important outcome of the work so far in seeking to maintain the Common Travel Area.
The focus of the work to maintain the Common Travel Area after the UK leaves the EU continues to be through the appropriate channels of engagement with the UK so as to ensure that the necessary provisions are in place in both jurisdictions.
Domestically, interdepartmental work to maintain the Common Travel Area is ongoing. This work will ensure that associated rights and entitlements provided for under the CTA, but since overlain by EU legislation, will continue after the UK leaves the European Union. This work will continue over the coming months in order to ensure the continuation of the CTA and associated rights and entitlements post-UK exit.