Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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269. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to outline in detail the discussions he has had with representatives of the British government in relation to the impact on the Common Travel Area of the Irish Government’s decision to sign up to the EU Asylum and Migration Pact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54361/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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It is a central priority for me that our immigration system is robust and enforced.

In developing the State’s national implementation plan for the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, my Department were satisfied that the new measures will not have any significant impact on the Common Travel Area (CTA).

The protection of an open border on the island of Ireland remains a key priority to the communities on both sides of the border. Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK) share a long history and common interest in the effective operation of the CTA and work together to prevent any abuses of the CTA.

There is extensive engagement, cooperation and intelligence 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.

My Department chairs a Common Travel Area Forum with the UK Home Office which 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 areas such as asylum and border management.

Since my appointment as Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration I had a number of engagements with the former UK Home Secretary, Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP, where we discussed cooperation in respect of managing the CTA, and our shared objectives to provide for effective management of migration and border security.

Whilst I have not had the opportunity to meet with the Rt Hon Shabana Mahmood MP since her appointment as Home Secretary just last month, I look forward to positive engagement with her in the future.