Written evidence to be reported to the House
UK Borders Bill
11:18 am
Mr. Byrne: Two points are germane. One is that the Good Friday agreement creates a different context for border control and border security within the common travel area, and we have to take account of that. If we are deporting people, we have to give effect to their not coming back in again, and that has a different dynamic within the common travel area. The second, fundamental, point is that Irish citizens are European Economic Area nationals, and EEA rules therefore apply; so Irish citizens have to be treated like other EEA nationals. That explains the context for the written ministerial statement that was provided last week.