Systematic identity controls on passengers coming from the Republic would have ended the passport-free zone .
In 2008 , the British government announced that it planned to impose systematic identity controls on air and sea passengers coming from the Republic , which would , if implemented , have effectively brought the passport-free zone to an end '' Irish will need passports to visit Britain from 2009 '' , Stephen Collins , October 24 , 2007 ; these have not , to date , taken effect .
Common Travel Area