Advance details of air passengers demanded

EVERYBODY travelling to the United States will have to send their details two days in advance for clearance, Michael Chertoff, US Secretary for Homeland Security, told parliamentarians in Brussels.

The visa waiver system between the US and most EU countries, including Ireland, could be scrapped if they do not agree to new US demands on taking and retaining information.

Mr Chertoff revealed that under new legislation airline passengers would have to give whatever the information is on their passport online to the authorities in advance.