Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if her Department will take steps to put the Common Travel Area between the UK and Ireland on a statutory basis; and if she will make a statement.

The Common Travel Area (CTA), founded upon administrative agreements, has been reflected in each state’s application of national immigration policy. The CTA is specifically recognised in the 1997 Treaty of Amsterdam and a Protocol to the European Treaties at Amsterdam, which provides that the two states may “continue to make arrangements between themselves relating to the movement of persons between their territories”.

There is an ongoing joint programme of work to strengthen the external border of the CTA and facilitate legitimate travel. The Prime Minister and the Taoiseach have stated their intention for both countries to work together to maintain the CTA.