Members of the public and businesses in the Isle of Man are being invited to submit views about proposed changes to the Common Travel Area.

The consultation comes after concerns the area - consisting of the United Kingdom, the Irish Republic and the Crown Dependencies - is being abused by illegal immigrants.

Graham Bell reports (audio file attached):

The consultation follows a review by the United Kingdom and Irish governments into the free movement of people within the Common Travel Area, or CTA.

Possible reforms include full immigration controls for non-CTA nationals travelling between the UK and Ireland, which could also apply between the Isle of Man and the Irish Republic.

There could also be new measures to check identities on those routes.

The UK Border Agency consultation closes in the middle of next month and further information is available from the Home Office website.