Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 October 2025
129. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has carried out an assessment of the potential impact on migration into the State of the proposed introduction of mandatory digital identity cards for workers in the United Kingdom; and if he will publish the details of same [52412/25]
View answer130. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if contingency planning has been undertaken by his Department to address the risk of increased irregular migration into the State via the land border with Northern Ireland arising from changes in UK immigration enforcement policy; and if he will set out the measures considered. [52413/25]
View answer131. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department has consulted with the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade regarding the diplomatic and legal implications for Ireland of potential secondary migration flows into the State following UK immigration policy changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52415/25]
View answer132. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he has directed his officials to develop protocols with the Police Service of Northern Ireland to monitor and address irregular migration across the land border arising from prospective changes in UK immigration enforcement; and if he will outline those protocols. [52416/25]
View answer133. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he has commissioned any legal analysis on the compatibility of existing Common Travel Area arrangements with the introduction of mandatory digital identity cards in the UK; and if he will publish that legal advice. [52417/25]
View answer135. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he intends to seek support or assistance at European Union level in the event that the State experiences a disproportionate increase in asylum or migration applications as a result of UK policy changes; and if he will set out the form such support might take. [52419/25]
View answer136. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has updated its risk assessments of international protection applications to account for the likelihood of individuals relocating from the United Kingdom into this jurisdiction in anticipation of stricter UK immigration enforcement; and if he will provide the findings. [52420/25]
View answer137. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he will report to Dáil Éireann on the preparedness of the State’s immigration, border management and asylum systems to address any displacement of irregular migrants from the UK to Ireland following the introduction of mandatory digital identity cards in Britain. [52421/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 129 to 133, inclusive, and 135 to 137, inclusive, together.
The announcement by the British Government concerning the introduction of digital identity cards in the UK has been noted and I look forward to seeing details of the proposals in due course.
Changing migration trends are kept under continual review and are responded to by my Department. Any variation in migration trends within the common travel area following the future introduction of these UK measures or otherwise will see my Department adapting its response accordingly.
I can assure the Deputy that safeguarding the CTA and implementing effective border security arrangements are central priorities for me. The Programme for Government commits to continuing to work with the United Kingdom Government to introduce further measures to tackle abuses within the CTA and strengthen the external border of the CTA.
My Department chairs a Common Travel Area Forum (CTAF) with the UK Home Office which acts as a steering committee for the ongoing work of protecting the CTA in relation to free movement of its citizens between both countries while at the same time ensuring that the CTA is not abused by those not entitled to avail of it. The Forum meets twice yearly but also meets in sub-group format to address particular elements of Ireland/UK co-operation, bringing together relevant subject matter expertise in areas such as asylum and border management.
More broadly, there is extensive engagement and cooperation at all levels between my Department officials and their Home Office counterparts, as well as significant operational cooperation between the Gardaí, UK Border Force, UK policing services and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. This strong practical engagement and cooperation serves the mutual interests of both Ireland and the UK and will continue.
In line with the Programme for Government my Department is carrying out a joint risk assessment which forms part of the CTAF work programme and is an opportunity to share and compare information about migration into and within UK and Ireland. The assessment will consider emerging trends which may impact operational and policy priorities; its overarching aim is to inform policy making and operational prioritisation in line with our existing strategy to secure the external CTA border. The assessment will consider issues such as entry via clandestine means, abuse of legal migration pathways, any potential abuse of the International Protection system in UK and Ireland and entry to the UK or Ireland via CTA routes in breach of exclusion or deportation orders.
