Sinn Féin MLA John O’Dowd said today that the Tory government’s planned introduction of Electronic Travel Authorisation requirements will harm all-Ireland tourism travel and will impact on Banbridge and its surrounding areas as it sits on the main route between Dublin and Belfast.
He was speaking after Minister Robert Jenrick rejected calls which was would have enabled tourists to travel south to north without the ETA.
The Upper Bann MLA, said:
“Ireland’s tourism is all-island.
“This unnecessary paperwork would bring additional cost and inconvenience to travellers
“It risks reducing the numbers of visitors to the north, with jobs lost in tourism and hospitality.
“Banbridge benefits form the ease of travel for tourists across the border, putting barriers in their way will not entice them to travel.
“This policy would also impact on some of those travelling between jurisdictions for work or study. Its ramifications will be far reaching.
“This is yet another example of a British Tory government in London bringing in laws which have no consideration as to how would work in reality in Ireland. They just don’t care.
“Sinn Féin will continue to campaign for an immediate halt to these unfair, unreasonable and unworkable proposals.”
CRÍOCH/ENDS
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