Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by antillean 3773 days ago
Uh, no. Neither Ireland nor the UK is in the Schengen. The UK didn't want to be, and Ireland opted out because of the UK. From the BBC[1]:

"The UK and Republic of Ireland have opted out. The UK wants to maintain its own borders, and Dublin prefers to preserve its free movement arrangement with the UK - called the Common Travel Area - rather than join Schengen."

1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13194723
2 comments
k-mcgrady 3773 days ago
Shocked I wasn't aware of that! I still think it'll be pretty bad from a business perspective with Northern Ireland losing companies to the Republic and more difficult trading between the two.
link
aembleton 3773 days ago
More concerning will be the future of the Good Friday Agreement and the peace in the area.
link
antillean 3773 days ago
True.
link
aembleton 3773 days ago
The UK and Ireland may both want to preserve the Common Travel Area, but I don't think Ireland has any say in the matter. It will be up to the European Union, or more accurately the commissioners.
link
antillean 3773 days ago
Eh, what? Hasn't the ROI had a say up to now? What's about to change? Is the EC about to invade the ROI?
link
aembleton 3773 days ago
The EU requires protection of it's external border by member states. The ROI would be required to protect it's border with the UK. If it failed to do so, the EU could withhold funding from it, in effect fining them.
link
antillean 3773 days ago
Ah

How does that work with Norway and Switzerland? Or is that different because they're members of the Schengen?

link