Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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676. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he or officials from his Department have met with their Northern Ireland counterparts to discuss measures designed to reduce or track the flow of persons travelling over the Border to access international protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25571/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Implementing effective border security arrangements is a priority for me, and the Programme for Government commits to developing a border security strategy to deliver stronger border security.

Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK) share a long history and common interest in the effective operation of the Common Travel Area (CTA) and work together to prevent any abuses of the CTA.

While I have met several times with my Northern Ireland counterparts, immigration is not a devolved function. The Home Office is therefore responsible for immigration policy across the entire United Kingdom and there is extensive engagement, cooperation and data-sharing at all levels between my 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 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. It also informs enforcement measures on a practical, day to day, level.

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.

The Programme for Government also commits to ‘Carry out joint threat analysis with other jurisdictions and ensure technology supports stronger border screening’. The joint risk assessment forms part of the CTAF work programme and is an opportunity to share and compare information about migration into and within UK and Ireland.

I would also add that since my appointment as Minister for Justice, I have had a number of engagements with the UK Home Secretary, Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, where we discussed cooperation in respect of managing the Common Travel Area, and our shared objectives to provide for effective management of migration and border security.