Ireland seeks Schengen alerts on terrorists

Ireland should get alerts about potential terrorists and suspect passports identified by other EU countries once the country is linked up to the Schengen Information System, according to Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald.

She recently agreed to spend €4m on the system, which means gardaí, customs officials, and other law-enforcement agencies will get alerts in real time after they are put into the system by agencies in the other 27 member states.

Britain, which like Ireland is not yet part of the Schengen border-free area, has been part of the complex internet system for some time.