Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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591. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the discussions both she and her officials have had with their respective counterparts in the British Government regarding the common travel area since March 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25941/14]

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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592. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the discussions both she and her officials have had with their respective counterparts in Northern Ireland regarding the common travel area since March 2011 through the medium of the North-South Ministerial Council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25943/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 591 and 592 together.

I would like to advise the Deputy that there is ongoing close cooperation on the operation, oversight and strengthening of the Common Travel Area (CTA) between the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department and the UK Home Office. It is of critical importance that both Ireland and the United Kingdom work closely together to enhance the protection of the CTA. In this regard, my predecessor agreed a programme of action with the then UK Minister of State for Immigration, Mr. Damien Green MP as set out in the Joint Statement on the Protection of the CTA. It was signed by both sides in Dublin on 20th December, 2011. The programme of action covers cooperation in the areas of visa arrangements, information sharing, use of e-Borders technology and operational matters. Both countries are committed to working together on visa and border matters to prevent abuse of our immigration systems and to facilitate the legitimate traveller.

I have also met recently with the UK Home Secretary on the margins of a Justice and Home Affairs Council to discuss progress on CTA matters, including cooperation on visa matters and in that regard yesterday I announced one of the successes of our cooperation, the ‘British Irish Visa Scheme’ between Ireland and the United Kingdom. This will allow tourists, business visitors etc. will be able, for the first time, to visit both Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland, on a single visa. As matters stand, many overseas tourists and business visitors who wish to visit both Ireland and the UK, including Northern Ireland, need separate Irish and UK visas. From the autumn, China and India will be the first countries to benefit from this groundbreaking scheme and will be able to travel freely within the CTA using either an Irish or UK visa.

The Scheme which was proposed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department will enable both countries’ immigration systems to work in tandem to promote and facilitate legitimate travel within the CTA, while also strengthening the external borders of the Area. Further roll-out of the scheme to other countries will be agreed between INIS and the UK Home Office through the CTAF, with the objective of worldwide roll-out being completed by the end of 2015, and it is expected to provide a major boost to tourism and international business. The scheme marks an historic development in the relationship between Ireland and the UK and in the operation of the Common Travel Area which has existed between the two countries since 1922.

The scheme builds on the success of the Irish Short-stay Visa Waiver Programme introduced by the Government in July 2011.

In relation to the North South Ministerial Council, immigration is not a function which has been devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive and so does not form part of the Council's framework. That said, there has been and is very regular contact at ministerial and official level with the Northern Ireland Minister of Justice and his officials through which all aspects of North-South police cooperation are discussed, including those aspects relevant to immigration and the Common Travel Area.