EU-Turkey Agreement

Baroness Laing of Elderslie Excerpts
Wednesday 9th March 2016

(8 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Lidington Portrait Mr Lidington
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My hon. Friend makes a reasonable and important point. Like the United Kingdom, Ireland is not in Schengen and therefore not obliged to participate in any visa liberalisation. We keep in close contact with the authorities in Dublin, because the existence of the common travel area means that we need to ensure that we take account of each other’s decisions on this matter. I do not anticipate any difficulties in this regard—we normally think pretty much alike—but my hon. Friend is right to register that this is an issue that we need to keep in mind.

Baroness Laing of Elderslie Portrait Madam Deputy Speaker (Mrs Eleanor Laing)
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And the prize for perseverance and patience goes to Mr Marcus Fysh.

Marcus Fysh Portrait Marcus Fysh (Yeovil) (Con)
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Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Does my right hon. Friend appreciate that access to visa-free travel across Schengen for Turkish citizens might well lead to a large new influx of illegal immigration into Europe that could cause misery across the continent?