Ian Snowden, Permanent Secretary at the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland (Liam McBurney/PA)“I’m sure a lot of you here will have concerns about the UK Government’s proposed electronic travel authorisation scheme. “There is a real risk here that that might discourage tourists who come to Ireland, including Northern Ireland, as part of their itinerary during their visit, and given that 70% of our overseas visitors travel here via the Republic, getting the operation messaging around that scheme right will be hugely important. “To that end, the department has been engaging closely with the Home Office about the factors that they need to consider about Northern Ireland and how they develop their communications strategy and how they operate the scheme. A UK Government spokesperson responded: “We are introducing an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme to enhance our ability to prevent the travel of those who present a threat to the UK. “Individuals arriving in the UK, including Northern Ireland, will need to continue to enter in line with the UK’s immigration framework, including obtaining an ETA if required.

Source: The Herald January 11, 2024 20:58 UTC