Common Travel Area
Dail Éireann — 2026-03-19
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Jim O'Callaghan (FF), Dublin Bay South

At present, the UK is designated by me as a safe third country. That designation was done on the basis of an assessment. By 12 June, I will designate it as a safe third country under the new legislation, provided I get the assessment. There is no reason to think the assessment will change. Circumstances in Britain have not changed since I previously designated it as a safe third country. On the impact of this measure, under the legislation, certain applications from people who come from a safe third country will be inadmissible. It will also be possible to return people to a safe third country.
As the Deputy will know, when it comes to the deportations that take place and that have taken place, I can only deport or remove people to countries that are prepared to receive them. I cannot just charter a flight, land it in the UK and say "Here you are". Co-operation with the UK is required. I have a very good relationship with the Home Secretary. There is recognition of the issues that arise in respect of the common travel area and there will be an agreed response from the Irish and UK Governments. It is a difficult challenge. Can the Deputy come up with a simple response to it? I am not being facetious but the only way to stop it is to put a hard border on the island and we do not want to do that.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-03-19/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:45+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-19