Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 73: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that non-EU nationals may require British visas, at a cost of €56, to travel by bus to Donegal, due to the fact that the route passes through Northern Ireland; if he has had talks with the British authorities regarding the removal of this onerous requirement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5369/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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This matter has not previously been drawn to my attention. Policy in relation to immigration in this jurisdiction is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

There are a wide variety of circumstances in which a visitor to one jurisdiction within the common travel area may be required to transit the territory of the other. In certain cases there may be a visa requirement in both jurisdictions. This arises from the fact that the common travel area operates only for the benefit of Irish and British citizens.