Ireland and the UK to announce new visa scheme

A new British-Irish visa scheme will be announced today.

It will allow international tourists to apply for one permit to travel freely between both countries, and will be offered to Chinese visitors first, and then tourists from India, before being rolled out on a wider basis.

The scheme will also see immigration authorities here and in the UK agree to share data.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald will be in London to sign the unprecedented agreement with the British Home Secretary Theresa May later.