HL Deb 25 July 2002 vol 638 cc105-6WA
Lord Kilclooney

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What checks are in place to monitor the movement of refugees or asylum seekers from the European Union via the Republic of Ireland across the land frontier into the United Kingdom.[HL5270]

Lord Filkin

The United Kingdom Immigration Service does not operate a border control on the land frontier between the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom as this falls within the arrangements set out for the common travel area. The objective of the common travel area is that all the territories should be treated as a single unit for the purpose of travel within the area. A person's arrival in the United Kingdom from within the common travel area is not, therefore, subject to control except under very specific circumstances as outlined in the Immigration Act 1971 and the Control of Entry through the Republic of Ireland Order 1972 which defines those persons who may not enter the United Kingdom from the Republic of Ireland without leave from an immigration officer.

People entering Ireland from outside the common travel area, including European Union states other than the United Kingdom, would arrive by sea or air into ports of entry controlled by the Irish authorities. We are confident that the Irish authorities control their borders effectively in accordance with their legislation and the United Kingdom Immigration Service liaises closely with its Irish counterparts on matters of mutual operational interest.

Any asylum seeker who has sought asylum in another member state of the European Union who subsequently travels to the United Kingdom is liable for return to that country under the terms of the Dublin Convention. This includes people who have sought asylum in the Republic of Ireland.