John Gerard Hanafin (Fianna Fail)

I support the purpose of the Bill. Despite the massive increase in the numbers of people travelling in recent years, due to terrorist events, in particular the events of 11 September 2001 in the United States and the Bali and the London bombings, it has become necessary to implement a series of controls and checks which provide security to all travellers and people at the destination point. The Government has taken the opportunity in this Bill to update the position by providing a comprehensive legislation basis for the regulation and issuance of passports, which is to be welcomed.

I would be concerned that the e-border would limit United Kingdom-Ireland free travel but that is happening in any event because the airlines themselves are implementing controls in that they require photographic identity. We have enjoyed free travel between here and the UK for a long time, despite the difficulties in the 1970s and 1980s when tight restrictions were in place. There was control but there was always a facility to pass through to the UK, as should be the case. I refer in particular to the Republic's land border with the North of Ireland. The restrictions being proposed in the UK would restrict people travelling from Northern Ireland to the United Kingdom.

We can appreciate and understand the benefits of the new technology, which includes biometric passports, the use of iris pattern, which is a unique method of identification, and thumb imprints which would identify the person without doubt. Notwithstanding that, the Passport Office has committed itself to storing photographs and the biometric information, which will be securely held for the people. There is no question, therefore, that the information would be shared with other agencies and used only for passport purposes.

The current requirement for a second biometric identifier of a fingerprint or an iris pattern may become necessary. It will probably depend on what will happen in the United States. Currently, we provide our citizens with a comprehensive package which is well accepted. It is a modern system. It provides a valid passport which is useful regardless of the destination to which people travel. Depending on what happens in the United States we will discover whether there will be a need for fingerprint or iris pattern biometric identifiers, although we hope that will not be the case.

Regarding the Schengen Agreement, if the situation changes between the UK and Ireland, Ireland would have to consider becoming part of the Schengen group for passports and control. A total of 31 states, including 27 European Union states and four non-EU member states — Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland — are subject to all or some of the Schengen rules, and 24 have fully implemented them so far. In 1990, Ireland and the UK did not sign up to the original Schengen Convention and retained a right to opt out of the application of the rules after their conversion into EU law. In that instance we have not ended border controls with other EU member states.

A common Schengen visa allows tourists or other visitors access to the area. Holders of residence permits within a Schengen state enjoy the freedom of travel to other Schengen states for a period of up to three months.

The legal basis for Schengen in the treaties of the European Union has been inserted by Article 2.15 of the Treaty of Amsterdam. This inserted a new title, named "Visas, asylum, immigration and other policies related to free movement of persons" into the treaty, currently numbered as Title IV, and comprising Articles 61 to 69. The Treaty of Lisbon substantially amends the provisions of the articles in the title, renames the title to "Area of freedom, security and justice" and divides it into five chapters, called "General provisions" — policies on border checks, asylum and immigration; judicial cooperation in civil matters; judicial co-operation in criminal matters; and police co-operation.

This Bill merely brings us up to date with what is happening currently in the world in terms of the threats of terrorism and the obvious need for the biometric changes in our passports. That is the reality. The possibility of the Department of Homeland Security in the United States putting more stringent regulations in place may result in further changes in the future. It is hoped we will not need more stringent biometric regulations but it will reflect what is happening in the world at the time.