Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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543. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of meetings of the Common Travel Area Forum since the United Kingdom triggered Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon; if he or officials from his Department have attended these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15696/18]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Since 29 March 2017, when the UK notified the President of the European Council of its intention to withdraw from the European Union, there have been two meetings of the Common Travel Area Forum (CTAF), on 28 June and 12 October. A third meeting is to be held in Dublin on 19 April 2018.

Meetings of the CTAF are jointly chaired by the Director General of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service and his UK Home Office counterpart, and are attended by officials from both jurisdictions. The Forum acts as a steering committee for the ongoing work of protecting the Common Travel Arrangement (CTA) in relation to free movement of people between our countries while at the same time ensuring that it is not abused by those not entitled to avail of it. It provides a framework for a more strategic approach for the excellent co-operation between Ireland and the United Kingdom in this key policy area.  Other aspects of the broader scope of the CTA, such as access to services in each other’s countries by Irish and UK nationals are dealt with bilaterally by the relevant Government Departments. 

The CTAF also meets in sub-group format to address particular elements of Ireland/UK cooperation. In addition, there is regular contact between Irish and UK officials on strategic and operational CTA matters.