Justice Minister Simon Harris said he has "reaffirmed the importance of the Common Travel Area" during a trip to the UK.
He met Britain's Home Secretary Suella Braverman on Thursday, where they also met with senior officials at Scotland Yard.
Minister Harris and Ms Braverman discussed the ongoing cooperation between Ireland and the UK on criminal justice and security issues - including combatting domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.
The pair also reaffirmed the importance of the ongoing cooperation between Irish Border Management and the UK's Border Force in maintaining the Common Travel Area.
![A woman holds an Irish and British passport in front of her face](https://media.radiocms.net/uploads/2023/05/11182803/Irish-British-passports-e1650573171718.jpg-edit.jpg)
Speaking in London, Minister Harris said: "The Home Secretary and I today re-affirmed the importance of the Common Travel Area as a very important aspect of the continuing strong links between the UK and Ireland.
"I welcome the positive considerations of Irish concerns relating to the impact of the ETA scheme for Irish residents and the Home Office's recent agreement to an exemption for legal Irish residents.
"This agreement highlights the importance of the ongoing cooperation between my department and the Home Office, through long-standing arrangements that support the Common Travel Area".
The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) is a requirement for people who do not need a visa going to the UK.
Minister Harris said his visit to Scotland Yard "provided an opportunity to discuss the Metropolitan Police’s use of modern policing technology."
"As a Government we are committed to building stronger, safer communities and ensuring An Garda Síochána is a modern, world-class policing service which has the best equipment for its members.
"Our visit to Scotland Yard afforded us with a useful opportunity to discuss the Met’s experience of utilising modern policing equipment," he added.
What is the Common Travel Area?
The Common Travel Area is an arrangement between Ireland and the UK that gives a variety of rights to citizens of both countries - including the right to travel freely.
Irish and UK citizens have the right to live, work and study within the Common Travel Area.
While it is recognised under the Treaty of Amsterdam, it is not dependent on the European Union and the continuing membership of both countries.
Originally established in 1922, the Irish and UK governments signed a Memorandum of Understanding in May 2019 reaffirming the agreement.
There are no routine passport controls in operation for Irish and UK citizens travelling between the two states.