Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact on the a) effectiveness and b) future of the Common Travel Area between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland of ferry operators requiring passengers travelling between both countries to hold valid passports.

No change has been made to the Government’s operation of the Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangement. The CTA continues to afford British and Irish citizens the ability to move freely and reside in either jurisdiction and enjoy associated rights and privileges, including the right to work, study, etc.

We are committed to maintaining the CTA and preventing abuse of it.