Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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161. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will confirm the security checks that are in place for buses entering this country from the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29483/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Garda Síochána undertakes immigration controls at all approved ports of entry to the State and also deploys an immigration unit based at Dundalk to conduct such controls, as appropriate, at the border with Northern Ireland. The nature of these controls and how they are implemented are operational matters for the Garda Síochána. As the Deputy is aware, there is a common travel area, CTA, between Ireland and the UK which for many decades has delivered immeasurable economic, social and cultural benefits to all people on the island. The CTA which facilitates ease of travel is of the utmost importance in public policy and in its implementation an appropriate and balanced approach is taken to border controls in cooperation with the UK authorities.