Mr. Lewis Purser:

The Chair has raised an important point, that the common travel area does not, by my understanding, have a basis in Irish law. It was built up from years of custom and practice. I understand that as part of the Government's Brexit preparations, some elements are prepared to be placed on a legal footing. I do not know whether that will be entirely necessary to ensure normal mobility of individuals across these islands, but it might well be to ensure employment and residency rights. With regard to students, we could, if and when the UK leaves the European Union, with or without a deal, unilaterally write UK students into the various Government schemes, such as the free fee scheme or the Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, scheme, which is renewed annually. Our Government could do that.

The UK has committed to continue to fund European students, including Irish students, who are currently in UK higher education for the continuation of their studies. I believe it has already issued a guarantee for students who might enter next year. Beyond that, it is anyone's guess. The Irish Government has issued a guarantee to UK students who started this year for the duration of their normal study period of three or four years, but it is anyone's guess from next year on. This uncertainty makes it difficult for young people and their families to plan and it contributes significantly to the fall-off in student mobility. It may need to be written into legislation or into secondary documentation such as the SUSI scheme or internal documentation between the Departments of Finance and Education and Skills. I imagine the latter is necessary but that is entirely within the gift of the Government.