Plans to bring in UK-Ireland border checks

THE first formal border checks between Britain and Ireland in more than 80 years have been proposed by the two governments.

London and Dublin outlined plans for identity checks on travellers yesterday which could involve a full passport inspection.

A Home Office consultation paper said it was putting forward "a substantial change" to the passport-free zone known as the Common Travel Area, which was set up in 1925 following Irish independence.

Immigration checks between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland will also be stepped up to catch non-British and non-Irish nationals who travel illegally between the two countries, the paper said.

But it insisted there was "no intention to introduce fixed border immigration controls on the land border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland".