Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether a returning ISIS fighter from Syria, who is an Irish citizen, will be allowed to enter, settle and work in the UK under Common Travel Area rules.

The UK has robust policies in place to exclude those whose behaviour is non-conducive to the public good in the UK. The Home Secretary has the power to exclude non-British nationals from the UK if he believes they represent a serious threat to our society. Exclusion decisions are taken on a case-by-case basis by Ministers.

Irish citizens have long held a status in the UK as part of the Common Travel Area (CTA) arrangements, reflecting the close ties between the UK and Ireland. These arrangements, which mean Irish citizens can live, work, study and access benefits and services in the UK without being subject to a requirement to obtain leave to enter or remain, do not prevent an Irish citizen from being excluded or deported from the UK.

The UK’s approach since 2007 has been to only consider Irish citizens for deportation where a criminal court has recommended deportation or conviction or where the Secretary of State concludes that due to the exceptional circumstances of the case the public interest requires deportation. This approach is to be maintained.