Passport controls planned between Ireland and UK
24/10/2007 - 07:42:18Irish people will reportedly be required to produce a passport when travelling to Britain due to a planned tightening of border controls in the coming years.
Since the foundation of the State, the two countries have operated a common travel area that allows people to travel from one to the other without needing a passport.
However, reports this morning say the system will come to an end in 2009 due to the introduction of new electronic border controls.
The British government has reportedly decided to press ahead with the new controls at the earliest possible date in order to track the movements of terrorist suspects, criminals and illegal immigrants.
