Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Electronic Travel Authorisation Scheme: Tourism

Wednesday 21 June 2023 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department recently met with Northern Ireland tourism organisations alongside the Home Office for discussions on how to communicate the ETA requirement.
  • The Government's policy is correct in not creating a loophole through the ETA scheme, and exemptions exist for third-country nationals ordinarily resident in Ireland.
  • The Government recognises the need for clear communication and engages closely with the Irish Government to address concerns about the ETA scheme.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Tim Loughton Con
Immigration Northern Ireland
Context

The question arises from discussions on the implementation of an ETA requirement for tourists entering Northern Ireland.

Question

What recent discussions has his Department had with representatives of the tourism sector in Northern Ireland on the implementation of the electronic travel authorisation scheme?

Answer from Steven Baker

The Department recently met with Northern Ireland tourism organisations alongside the Home Office for discussions on how to communicate the ETA requirement. The Secretary of State also hosted a tourism roundtable at Hillsborough castle, and the Government will continue engaging with the sector.

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Q2 Tim Loughton Con
Immigration
Context

Concern about granting an ETA exemption to tourists or people claiming to be tourists traveling from the Republic of Ireland.

Question

Does my hon. Friend acknowledge that if an ETA exemption was granted for tourists—indeed, people claiming to be tourists—traveling from the Republic of Ireland, that would undermine the integrity of the whole scheme?

Answer from Steven Baker

The Government's policy is correct in not creating a loophole through the ETA scheme. We have engaged closely with the Irish Government to ensure clear communication of registration requirements. An exemption exists for third-country nationals ordinarily resident in Ireland, and UK or Irish citizens are exempt under the common travel area.

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Q3 Stephen Farry
Immigration Foreign Affairs
Context

Concern about treating movements from the Republic of Ireland to Northern Ireland the same as any entries into the UK.

Question

Does the Minister recognise that Ireland is marketed internationally as a single entity with respect to tourism? Does he understand that treating movements on the island of Ireland the same as any entries into the UK from the rest of the world is not fair and does not recognise the specific circumstances that exist on the island?

Answer from Steven Baker

The Government recognises elements of what was said, including conversations with Irish Government at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. The position is to not create a loophole through the ETA scheme but ensure clear communication. Exemptions exist for third-country nationals ordinarily resident in Ireland and UK or Irish citizens under the common travel area.

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