Big Brother Alert As Travel Database Mooted

Irish Minister for Justice, Brian Lenihan is ready to unveil new plans that will require the itineraries of all people travelling to and from Ireland to be logged in a centralised database.

The 'Big Brother' system has been put forward as part of plans to establish an electronic border control system - especially important given the global nature of the terrorist threat that has evolved.

The details in the database will reportedly be used to alert gardaí to the travel plans of people on special "watch lists", including people involved in crime, social welfare fraud or immigration offences.

This morning's reports say it will be introduced on a phased basis, starting with a number of long-haul air routes.

The British government recently announced it was to end the long-standing practice of 'free' travel between the British Isles, with passport controls set to be introduced for people travelling from the Irish Republic for the first time since partition - reportedly for the same reason of tracking and preventing terrorist suspects from entering their jurisdiction.

(BMcC)