Britain and Ireland to join forces in bid to protect post-Brexit border with European Union
Theresa May and Enda Kenny agree to focus on securing a deal that is in the best interests of the two countries
Britain and Ireland are to start joining forces to protect their wider border with the EU after Brexit, Theresa May has announced.
After her first talks with Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny in No 10, the PM revealed their two countries will start pooling passenger data so they can keep the Northern Ireland border open with the south.
Mrs May said yesterday: “I recognise that one of the biggest concerns for people is the common travel area.
“We benefited from a common travel area between the UK and the Republic of Ireland for many years before either country was a member of the EU.
“There is a strong will on both sides to preserve it and so we must now focus on securing a deal that is in the interests of both of us.
She added: “Alongside this, we should continue our efforts to strengthen the external borders of the common travel area; for example, through a common approach to the use of passenger data.”
Mr Kenny also said he did “not favour, and would not agree to, a hard border with a whole range of customs posts, and neither does the prime minister.”
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Following the meeting, he added on Downing Street: “We are both agreed very firmly there will be no return to a hard border as existed.”
On the peace process, Mrs May said: “It is in all our interests to work together to safeguard our national security and the outcome of the referendum will not undermine it.
“We are both fully committed to working together in support of the Northern Ireland Executive to build a better, stronger, safer future for the people of Northern Ireland.
The meeting at No 10 came as Mrs May prepared to continue her tour of European capitals ahead of a trip to Rome this afternoon and a visit to Poland’s capital Warsaw later in the week.