Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

It is not the case that Britain has made a unilateral decision to eliminate the common travel area. The British Government is considering introducing enhanced security in terms of people entering and leaving its jurisdiction. In the context of the common travel area that we have been lucky to enjoy for many decades, we are discussing these issues with the British Government in such a way that we ourselves can be absolutely certain we will not be used as a safe haven for undesirables.

We have put forward no proposals to become part of the Schengen Agreement. However, we have always participated in Schengen arrangements, so it is not the case that we are entirely out of the loop in this regard. We decide on these issues on a case by case basis to ensure we protect the types of advantages our people have had for many years in terms of the common travel area. This is a clear illustration of how opting out, but with the option of opting in, puts us in a strong position by affording us the ability to decide on a case by case basis whether proposals coming from the EU will have a positive or adverse effect.

See this speech in context