Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on the potential impact of the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme on the tourism industry in Northern Ireland.

Home Office and Northern Ireland Office ministers and officials are in regular contact on a range of mutual interests, including the introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme.

Those entering the UK, including those crossing the land border into Northern Ireland are expected to do so, in line with the UK’s immigration framework. This will include the requirement to have an ETA when they are introduced if it is applicable to them.

The Government remains committed to working with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure the ETA requirement is communicated effectively to help mitigate against any risk of it being seen as an increased barrier to cross-border tourism on the island of Ireland.