Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1557. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if it is his Department’s policy that Common Travel Area rights extend only to Irish citizens and British subjects; and if so, the measures in place to protect those rights. [19291/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, CTA is an arrangement between the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland which gives Irish and British citizens the right to move freely within the CTA. Additionally, there are associated reciprocal rights and privileges including access to employment, healthcare, all levels of education, and social benefits on the same basis as citizens of the other State, as well as the right to vote in local and national parliamentary elections.

The CTA is a long-standing arrangement in place between the UK and Ireland, and is essential in particular in making possible the lived realities of cross-border life under the Good Friday Agreement. The rights associated with the CTA apply only to Irish and British citizens.

The CTA, which predates Ireland’s joining of the then European Communities, has continued to operate since 1 January 2021, when the transition period following the UK’s departure from the European Union ended. The EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement and the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement both recognise the CTA. In keeping with the current Programme for Government and with the 2019 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by both the Irish and UK Governments, the Government is fully committed to the ongoing protection of the CTA. UK and Irish officials meet regularly at senior level to this end, under the oversight of the CTA Plenary group established by the 2019 MOU, both to consider ongoing cooperation under the CTA and to address any issues arising.

My Department protects the right to freedom of movement within the CTA. The Common Travel Area Forum (CTAF) acts as a steering committee for the ongoing work of protecting the CTA in relation to free movement of its citizens between both countries while at the same time ensuring that the CTA is not abused by those not entitled to avail of it. The Forum meets twice yearly but also meets in sub-group format to address particular elements of Ireland/UK co-operation, bringing together relevant subject matter expertise in various areas.

There is extensive engagement, and cooperation at all levels between my officials and their Home Office counterparts, as well as significant operational cooperation between the Gardaí, UK Border Force, UK policing services and the Police Service of Northern Ireland in relation to both immigration and criminal matters. This strong practical engagement and cooperation serves the mutual interests of both Ireland and the UK, and will continue.