The Government has held discussions with Stormont and Westminster after concerns were raised about the Common Travel Area in the wake of Monday’s attack in Belfast.
The British government intends to step up immigration checks, including operations on Common Travel Area routes to detect and arrest illegal immigrants.
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn said Irish authorities had questions to answer after it emerged the alleged perpetrator in Monday’s knife attack entered the island of Ireland at Dublin before travelling to Belfast in 2023.
Hadi Alodid, a Sudanese national, was granted refugee status in Northern Ireland the same year.
Jim O’Callaghan spokesperson said the leaders discussed the importance of cross-border cooperation
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan held separate discussions by phone yesterday with Mr Benn and the Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister Naomi Long.
Mr O’Callaghan’s spokesperson said they discussed the importance of cross-border cooperation in protecting the Common Travel Area between Ireland and Britain
“At the UK Ireland Summit in March it was agreed that further steps would be taken to ensure that the Common Travel Area remains secure by working together to expand immigration data sharing arrangements, particularly in preventing abuse of CTA free movement by those not entitled to its benefits,” the spokesperson added.
The Coalition has said it will cooperate with any investigations into the background of Monday’s alleged suspect.
However, the British government is now planning to invest more resources into a clampdown on illegal immigration, including in Northern Ireland.
British Prime Minsiter Keir Starmer’s administration plans to spend additional money to arrest, remove and detail illegal immigrants, including in Northern Ireland.
A source said there would be a surge in intelligence-led operations over the next three years.
They said these would include operations along Common Travel Area routes to detect and arrest illegal immigrants.
The British Home Secretary is investing £3.7billion (€4.2 billion) into immigration enforcement activity out to 2029.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson had a private meeting the the UK prime minister
The move comes after the DUP leader Gavin Robinson criticised the “open porous border” on the island of Ireland during a debate in the House of Commons.
Mr Robinson and his DUP colleague Carla Lockhart subsequently held a private meeting with the British prime minister.
The Opposition in the Dáil has also raised concerns in the wake of events in Belfast and ahead of the EU Migration Pact coming into effect tomorrow.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has called for an Irish sea border.
He said: “We have a swinging backdoor open between the two countries, which means we can’t manage migration.
“Events this week highlight how checks are needed to end the confusion and chaos.
“The proposed process will not affect the Common Travel Area as Irish and British citizens will still be able to move with passports and drivers’ licences.
“People with the required visas will also be able to move.
“But those applying for asylum on either island will have to do so when they land on each island.”
A trade border currently exists in the Irish Sea – agreed post-Brexit as part of the Windsor Framework.
Sinn Féin’s Justice Spokesperson Matt Carthy has reiterated his party’s call for a bilateral returns arrangement between Ireland and Britain and his criticism of the EU Migration Pact, which “doesn’t take into account the fact Ireland is divided”.
Deputy Carthy pointed out that the Stormont Executive has no competency when it comes to migration.