1 April 2025

SDLP Economy Spokesperson Sinéad McLaughlin MLA has raised concerns about the impact of the UK Government’s Electronic Authorisation Scheme on Northern Ireland’s economy.

Ms McLaughlin questioned the Economy Minister on the issue in the Assembly on Tuesday.

The scheme, which will come into effect on 2 April 2025, will require EU nationals to purchase an ETA, which will rise to a cost of £16. Non-EU nationals have already been required to obtain an ETA since 8 January 2025.

Foyle MLA Ms McLaughlin said:

“Since the pandemic, an extraordinary effort has been made to rebuild our tourism industry and related businesses across Northern Ireland. However, the introduction of the ETA scheme presents a real risk of undoing this hard work. The threat of this scheme, particularly on our tourism sector and small businesses, cannot be underestimated.

"Border regions, such as the one I represent in Derry, will be among the hardest hit. Small businesses already facing hardship will be pushed further into uncertainty. That’s why the Minister must take responsibility for fully understanding and addressing the consequences of this scheme. How can we expect our economy to recover and adapt if we do not have a clear understanding of the pressures it will face?

“We need to understand the full impact of this scheme on our economy, particularly in regions that rely on cross-border business. The Minister must act now to ensure that we have the full facts so that we can mitigate the worst effects of this harmful policy.”