Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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49. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the existing freedom of movement and residence rights for EU citizen spouses of Irish citizens moving from Ireland to Northern Ireland will be assured following the withdrawal of the UK from the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15728/19]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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It is important to note in the first instance that both the Irish and British Governments have confirmed that neither Irish citizens in the UK nor British citizens in Ireland are required to take any action to protect their status and rights associated with the Common Travel Area.

The Common Travel Area (CTA) is a long-standing arrangement between Ireland and the UK which means Irish citizens can move freely to live, work, and study in the UK on the same basis as UK citizens, and vice versa. After the UK leaves the EU, both Irish citizens in the UK and British citizens in Ireland will continue to enjoy these rights.

For the specific case of an EU citizen moving, as the spouse of Irish citizen, after the UK exits the European Union, from Ireland to Northern Ireland, or to anywhere else in the UK, the draft Withdrawal Agreement safeguards the rights of all EU citizens who were residing under EU law in the UK and all UK nationals who were residing under EU law in one of the EU27 Member States by the end of the transition period 31 December 2020. In the event of a no-deal scenario emerging, the UK will not have ratified the draft Withdrawal Agreement and will not be bound by its terms and in that scenario, non-Irish EU citizens moving to the UK would need to comply with UK immigration rules as they apply at that stage. Further clarity would be required from the UK Government on its approach in this scenario.

The Political Declaration setting out the framework for the Future EU-UK Relationship, which has been endorsed by the European Council, sets out the ambition of the EU and UK to have a deep and comprehensive partnership, including across a range of areas of importance to Ireland.

Ireland wants the closest possible relationship between the EU and the UK, including on trade, in order to minimise the impact on our trade and economy and our people.

The Withdrawal Agreement represents the best way to ensure an orderly UK withdrawal which protects the Good Friday Agreement, and will enable both sides to move on to negotiating a deep and comprehensive future partnership. The Government continues to work to this end.