Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 219: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to draw up guidelines or legislation to govern the operation of the free travel area with Britain as operated at airports here; if he will segregate the arrival of passengers from Britain as the British do for Irish passengers at British airports; and if his attention has been drawn to the free travel area implementation difficulties for Gardaí at airport immigration points due to the increased numbers of non-Irish citizens living here and of the difficulties experienced by some Irish citizens due to the lack of a clear implementation policy. [11386/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Ireland and the United Kingdom operate a "Common Travel Area" which permits passport free travel for citizens of both jurisdictions if travelling within this zone.

An immigration officer may ask a passenger travelling from the United Kingdom for evidence in support of a claim that he or she is a person entitled to avail of the Common Travel Area arrangement i.e. an Irish or British citizen and is thus exempt from immigration control.

The issue of immigration facilities at Irish ports and airports in general was discussed in my Department's publication "Outline Policy Proposals for an Immigration and Residence Bill" (April 2005). It was acknowledged in the discussion document that such facilities do in some respects fall short of what is needed for effective checking of arrivals. I understand senior Garda management within the Garda National Immigration Bureau frequently meet with the appropriate port of entry authorities in order to reduce as far as possible, delays experienced by passengers arriving in Ireland, within the immigration facilities currently provided.

In addition, the Deputy may wish to note that I intend to bring forward a number of legislative proposals for inclusion in the forthcoming Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill which will also be of interest. It is my intention to provide that, for purposes of prescribing a port as an approved port for immigration purposes, the operator will be required to provide such facilities as are necessary for the purpose of carrying out immigration functions.