Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will put in place plans to ensure that differential immigration systems on the island of Ireland are not exploited by criminal gangs to undermine legitimate businesses in Northern Ireland after the transition period ends.

The Common Travel Area (CTA) has never required the UK and Ireland to have entirely harmonised immigration arrangements for non-British or non-Irish citizens. However, everyone entering the UK, regardless of where they enter from, is required to meet the UK’s immigration framework. There is a high level of cooperation on border security to ensure legitimate travel, including for business, is facilitated while those who intend to abuse the arrangements are prevented from entering.

The Home Office, Ireland’s Garda National Immigration Bureau and Border Management Unit, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and other police forces work together to tackle abuse of the CTA by conducting intelligence-led checks and enforcement operations. Anyone identified attempting to circumvent UK border controls is liable to be removed, if they are not lawfully present within the UK.

We also work closely with the Republic of Ireland to secure the external CTA border, including data sharing and operational co-operation to prevent exploitation of our two immigration systems by those not complying with the relevant provisions in each nation.

There is a high degree of co-operation between UK Government departments on all aspects of the CTA.