John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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128. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she has conducted a cost-benefit analysis of re-establishing Border security if the United Kingdom exits the European Union and if so, the estimated cost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15925/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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At this stage, it is not clear what the implications of a withdrawal would be for the Common Travel Area and for the land border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. In such a scenario the land border will become an external border of the European Union, and the European Union or the United Kingdom could decide that they wished to restore border controls.

In the event of a vote to leave the Union there will be a period of negotiations to agree the terms of the withdrawal. It is impossible to predict the outcome of these negotiations should they arise including any arrangements and their cost implications that may arise to be put in place for the Common Travel Area. It would be our intention to try and maintain the existing arrangements regarding the Common Travel Area but this will be dependent on the positions adopted by the UK and the other 26 EU member states.