Non-British and Irish residents in the State expected to be exempt from UK borders bill

However, the government is not confident such an exemption will be made for tourists travelling north from the Republic

Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, had written to the British Home Office outlining their concerns that the bill will affect Ireland negatively, due to the cross-border nature of the economy and society. File photo: Gareth Chaney/ Collins Photos

The government is confident that non-British and Irish residents in the State will be exempt from the UK’s controversial new borders bill, the Irish Examiner can reveal.

High-level sources within the Department of Foreign Affairs have confirmed that after prolonged representations from officials and ministers to their UK counterparts, the British government is likely to grant an exemption for residents in the state to cross the border without contravening the new legislation.