A new visa deal between Ireland and the United Kingdom - which will allow foreign tourists and business-people to travel to both countries on one visa - is an historic pact, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said today.
Ms Fitzgerald signed a memorandum of understanding with British home secretary Theresa May at the Irish Embassy in London this afternoon.
Under the deal, a visa granted by either Ireland or the United Kingdom will be valid for travel to the other. This will be brought in first for Chinese visitors and then for visitors from India by early next year while other countries will be added from early next year.
An unprecedented amount of information about travellers will be shared between the Irish and British authorities to counter attempts of abuse by illegal immigrants or terrorists.
Information will be shared “in accordance with our respective laws and data protection obligations”, Ms Fitzgerald said before signing the agreement with the home secretary.
Irish authorities hope to benefit significantly from the millions of tourists and business-people who visit Britain every year, if they add on an Irish leg to their journey.
The deal offers 90-day visas to applicants who pass security checks, which will allow them to travel freely between Ireland and Britain, and between Northern Ireland and the Republic.
“Creating a mini-Schengen zone between Ireland and the UK is a historic breakthrough in developing the Common Travel Area that’s been of immense political, social and economic importance to both countries,” said Ms Fitzgerald.
Meanwhile, the British home secretary said the joint visa deal would allow foreign tourists and business-people the opportunity to “learn more about more richly vibrant, cultured island nations”.
