Border Checks with Britain Proposed

Formal border checks are set to be introduced between Britain and Ireland, meaning immigration checks between North and South could be on their way.

The proposal put forward by both the British and Irish governments would end the historic passport free travel between the two countries.

A joint statement with the British Home secretary, Jacqui Smith and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern said: "We are both introducing electronic border management systems so we can count people in and out of the country, and identify those people who may be of interest to our law-enforcement authorities."

The two governments agreed a range of measures to check the identity of travellers to strengthen the Common Travel Area, the passport-free zone set up in 1925 following Irish independence.

The prospect of new border controls was mooted late last year when Irish officials were asked to work on ending an existant agreement allowing the free movement between the two jurisdictions.

The move also follows rumours of a new electronic border control, believed to be pursued by the British government.

(BMcC)