Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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647. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his response to the British government’s White Paper on Immigration; if the new policy proposals contained therein could have any implications for migration into Ireland, and if he proposes any policy initiatives in response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25146/25]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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648. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he proposes to engage with the British government to agree any new bilateral arrangements to address migration issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25147/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 647 and 648 together.

I am aware of proposals contained in the recently published UK White Paper on immigration. While my officials will naturally examine these developments, they amount to legislative and other proposals for the determination of the UK authorities and its Parliament.

Ireland and the UK share a common travel area (CTA) and, as such, there is extensive engagement and cooperation at all levels between Department’s 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.

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. This strong practical engagement and cooperation serves the mutual interests of both Ireland and the United Kingdom, and will continue.

The Programme for Government contains commitments to ‘Continue to work with the UK Government to introduce further measures to tackle abuses within the Common Travel Area (CTA) and strengthen the external border of the Common Travel Area, including greater exchange of information’ and to ‘Carry out joint threat analysis with other jurisdictions and ensure technology supports stronger border screening’.

The joint risk assessment is an opportunity to share and compare information about migration into and within UK and Ireland, and this work is underway.