Government objects to UK's plan for pre-travel clearance into the North for EU citizens

An anti-Brexit billboard at the border. While the Common Travel Area (CTA) allows Irish and UK citizens free movement North and South, and East and West, it does not apply to EU nationals who have made the island of Ireland their home. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

The Irish Government is concerned and will object to a new British bill seeking EU citizens travelling to the North to pre-register with authorities, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has said.

Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Varadkar said while the government is clearly unhappy with the new requirements as proposed under the Nationality and Borders Bill, it “doesn’t come as a huge surprise.”