Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the need to introduce an identity card along the lines of those being introduced in Britain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9612/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The Government has not yet considered the issue of introducing a national identity card. As Ireland shares a land border and a common travel area with the United Kingdom, I have been closely monitoring developments in the UK in relation to the introduction of the identity card scheme. My main concerns are the implications for the common travel area and for Irish people travelling to, living and working in the UK.

While I am on record as being opposed to national identity cards in principle, I believe the introduction of the UK identity card may have implications for the approach we ultimately must take to this matter, particularly against the background of the common travel area. Having said that, I will wait and see the final version of the British scheme before finalising my views.

I have discussed this issue with the Home Secretary on a number of occasions and I will be meeting him again shortly, when this matter will be discussed. My officials and officials from other Departments have been in constant touch with their counterparts in the Home Office on this issue, and the Irish Embassy in London has kept a close eye on the passage of the UK legislation. Whether Ireland introduces an identity card or not, it is becoming increasingly common for airlines to demand photographic identification for domestic flights and for flights within the common travel area. The decision to do this is purely a matter for the carriers; it is not a legislative requirement.