Coalition reluctant on plan for Shannon Airport pre-clearance

There was some reluctance within the Fine Gael-Labour coalition government to support plans to establish a US pre-clearance immigration facility at Shannon Airport in 1986, particularly because of US demands that its immigration officials be given diplomatic-style immunity.

Peter Barry, the foreign affairs minister, sought approval in June 1986 to sign a proposed agreement with the US government to set up a pilot facility that would allow US-bound air passengers undertake all immigration and public health inspections at Shannon prior to departure.

Files show Mr Barry accepted the establishment of a pre-inspection facility, which would allow the application of US immigration and public health laws operate on Irish soil, was “a matter of concern in principle and in practice”.