Ireland is set to become a gateway to the UK after Brexit, with citizens being able to move freely between the two countries.
The Emerald Isle would remain an open door to the UK under the withdrawal agreement and EU citizens not settled in the UK would be subject to immigration rules but would be able to travel to the UK via Ireland uninhibited.
This would mean no passport checks for EU citizens on flights or ferries between the two countries and would even ensure that EU citizens could travel to major cities such as Dublin or Belfast and take a flight or ferry over to the UK without the usual passport checks.
The agreement would mean that EU citizens not settled in the UK would be able to travel to the UK via Ireland
As part of the EU withdrawal agreement, Britain will have to respect Ireland’s membership of the EU and the freedom of movement rules already in place.
The common travel area that has allowed British and Irish citizens to move freely between the countries since 1922, will still be in place under the proposed agreements.
The agreement states the UK ‘shall ensure that the CTA and the associated rights and privileges can continue to apply without affecting the obligations of Ireland under [EU] law, in particular with respect to free movement for citizens and their family members, irrespective of their nationality, to, from and within Ireland’.
The Home Office has previously stated that the UK and Ireland are set to maintain a ‘high level of cooperation’ on border security.
However, it is not yet clear how this will affect the possibility of Brits working in Ireland and vice versa.
This comes as tensions over the future of Northern Ireland intensified, with DUP MP Sammy Wilson claiming the Brexit deal was a ‘punishment beating’.
EU citizens could travel to major cities such as Dublin or Belfast and take a flight or ferry over to the UK without the usual passport checks
This is while Ireland’s deputy prime minister Simon Coveney criticised Wilson during questions about the Brexit deal in Ireland and said that the language being used ‘doesn’t help anyone’.
Ireland has previously stayed away from issues regarding the Brexit deal with Coceney having previously told MPs that it would be wrong to try and influence events in Westminster, The Guardian reported.
In a statement to the MailOnline the Home Office said:‘Both the UK and Irish Governments are committed to maintaining Common Travel Area arrangements and working together to ensure smooth travel to each other’s’ countries.
Sammy Wilson (pictured above) has previously been criticised by Ireland’s deputy prime minister Simon Coveney due to the language used to discuss the policies
‘As is the case now, people will be able to enter the UK from Ireland without passing routine immigration controls. However, international travellers will still be subject to the UK’s immigration requirements.’
The Home Office also stated that the UK and Ireland will maintain a high level of cooperation on border security to ensure that legitimate travel is facilitated while those who intend to abuse the arrangements are prevented from entering.
It also highlighted that immigration controls are not, and never have been, solely about the ability to prevent and control entry at the UK’s physical border.