Ireland backs EU bid to collect data on all air travellers

THE EU would collect information on all airline passengers and pass this on to customs and law enforcement agencies, under a proposal supported by Ireland.

The details, which would include flights within the union, would be used to help catch criminals.

The United States currently collects this kind of data on people flying into the US. The EU supports setting up a similar system to collect 19 pieces of information on passengers flying into and out of Europe.