Ireland yesterday joined the UK in indicating to its EU partners a willingness to sign up to parts of the Schengen agreement dealing with police and judicial co-operation and to provisions in the Amsterdam Treaty on harmonising EU asylum policies.
However, their involvement may be held up by Spain in a move to apply pressure on Britain over Gibraltar, Irish and British diplomatic sources have warned.
Schengen, an agreement aimed at establishing a zone of passport-free travel among member-states, was incorporated into the Amsterdam Treaty. The British Home Secretary, Mr Jack Straw, yesterday insisted Britain would sign up to police exchanges through the Schengen Information System database, largely data on stolen cars and extradition warrants, but not to the removal of frontier controls or data exchanges on immigrants. "We retain our ability to decide for ourselves who will be admitted to the UK."
Because of its commitment to maintaining the common travel area with Britain, Ireland can only do likewise.
Speaking to EU Justice Ministers here yesterday, the Minister of State for Justice, Ms Mary Wallace, said " . . . our intention would be to seek to apply to opt in to similar provisions as our UK colleagues and to participate in certain measures under the free movement of persons chapter of the Amsterdam Treaty".
