Recognising Schengen short stay visas could result in 200,000 more tourists in Ireland each year – Hayes

Fine Gael Dublin MEP, Brian Hayes has today (Sunday) urged the Government to recognise Schengen short stay visas as a means of boosting our tourism numbers. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement which was established to allow people move freely between participating countries.

“14 million applications for Schengen short stay visas are issued each year.  Ireland is not part of the Schengen Agreement. Those who successfully obtain a Schengen visa are therefore required to obtain a separate visa if they wish to travel to Ireland.

“I believe we could attract up to 200,000 more visitors per year if we were to recognise Schengen short stay visas. This would represent 2% of the total short stay Schengen visas issued annually.

“When non-European citizens obtain a Schengen visa they are highly unlikely to go through the extra hassle and costs of obtaining another visa to visit Ireland. If this was an automatic process, tourists would be much more inclined to make the trip to Ireland as part of their European visit.

“I’m not suggesting we abolish our own border controls or sign up to the Schengen agreement but that we simply recognise the short stay Schengen visa. Irish citizens have freedom of movement in the EU, so I believe that those who have an EU visa should be afforded the same freedom of movement regardless of whether it is in Schengen.”

Notes to Editor

• The Schengen Agreement consists of 26 countries that eliminated passport and immigration controls at their joint borders.

• 22 of the 28 EU member states are now part of the Schengen agreement. In addition – Norway, Iceland and Switzerland, although not part of the EU, have signed up to the agreement.

• Six EU member states are not part of the Schengen Agreement. Ireland and the United Kingdom are two of them.

• The main objective of the Schengen Agreement is the creation of a single external border with a single set of rules for policing that border. This then allows the abolition of internal borders and the free movement of people – a principle of the European Union

• Despite not being members of the Schengen Agreement Ireland and the UK can opt in to certain provisions.

• These provisions include increased police and judicial co-operation, faster extradition processes and sharing of information in relation to crimes. Both Ireland and the United Kingdom have opted into these provisions since 2000.