Air Services

Wednesday, 6 May 2026

Questions (149)

Carol Nolan

Question:

149. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that an airline (details supplied) recently decided to require passengers to produce passports or passport cards when travelling on its routes within the common travel area (CTA); whether the documents which can be required by an airline in this manner is currently governed by legislation or by regulations issued by his Department; his views on whether the continued and now increasing requirements for Irish citizens to produce passports or passport cards travelling within the CTA both at departure from Ireland and arrival in Ireland reduces the notion of the CTA to a mockery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32224/26]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Transport

While I have overall responsibility for transport policy, including aviation, it is not within my remit to intervene in the operational matters of private commercial airlines. Decisions regarding identification requirements for boarding are a matter for individual airlines.

While I understand that, in the past, the airline accepted a wider range of photographic identification, this practice was applied at the airline’s discretion rather that under any statutory obligation. Airlines are entitled to set their own conditions of carriage, including the forms of identification they require for travel, provided these are consistent with application law.

Under the CTA framework, there is no legal requirement for British and Irish citizens to carry passports when travelling between the UK and Ireland.

However, legal authorisation to enter a country does not in itself necessarily satisfy airline boarding requirements. Airlines operate under their own conditions of carriage and exercise discretion regarding acceptable boarding documentation. They may require documentation that exceeds minimum legal requirements.