Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 164: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on Ireland's non-membership of the Schengen agreement; the reason Ireland did not join in this agreement at the time of its inception; if this decision will be reviewed with a view to joining the Schengen agreement at some stage in the future; his views on the introduction of a national ID card that might facilitate Ireland's entry to the Schengen agreement at some stage in the future; the number of passports issued over the past 12 months for intra-EU travel; and the savings of time and money that would be achieved by the introduction of a national ID card that would also facilitate intra-EU travel. [17451/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Schengen Convention is an agreement among European States which provides for the abolition of systematic border controls between participating States and a common Schengen visa which allows tourist access to the area. The agreement also provides for the development of enhanced cooperation in relation to law enforcement matters and judicial cooperation. Ireland has successfully applied to take part in certain elements of the Schengen agreement, including police cooperation, mutual assistance in criminal matters, extradition and drugs cooperation. These provisions will come into effect only after a range of technical and legislative measures have been put in place and successfully evaluated by the Council. Ireland has not, however, applied to participate in the Schengen arrangements to the extent that they deal with the abolition of border checks or common visa provisions. This decision has been taken to maintain the common travel area (CTA) with the United Kingdom. As the Deputy will be aware, the UK elected not to participate in the borders aspects of Schengen.

The operation of the CTA facilitates nationals of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Irish nationals moving around freely between the two States. The CTA could not continue to operate if Ireland were to remove border checks with Schengen States generally while the United Kingdom did not do so. To do so would result in a situation where the land border with Northern Ireland would become the border between the Schengen area and the United Kingdom. Given the importance of maintaining the Common Travel Area, I cannot envisage a situation where Ireland would change its position unilaterally in relation to participation in the Schengen borders arrangements. The focus for the foreseeable future is in maximising the effectiveness of the Common Travel area through mutual co-operation.

Ireland and the UK maintain a close and ongoing working relationship in this regard and a number of matters are kept under review, including security, information exchange, visas and operational co-operation. National ID cards are not a requirement for participation in the Schengen Agreement and would not be necessary should Ireland decide to take part in the border aspects of the agreement at any time in the future. I am advised by my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs that an Irish passport does not have a geographical limitation and is valid for all countries. Therefore it would not be possible to quantify the savings of time and money that would be achieved by the introduction of a national ID card that would also facilitate intra EU travel.