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Stena Line and Irish Ferries are introducing stricter identification requirements for passengers travelling by ferry between the Republic of Ireland and Britain.
From Monday, September 28th, 2026 next, passengers, including children, will need to present a valid passport when checking in for affected sailings.
Stena Line says the requirement will apply in both directions on its Dublin–Holyhead route and Rosslare–Fishguard route.
No alternative forms of identification will be accepted by Stena Line.
The company is contacting customers who already have bookings.
Irish Ferries has similarly announced that all passengers, including Irish and British citizens, travelling between the Republic of Ireland and Britain in either direction must carry a valid passport. Its announcement also advises Irish passengers to check that their passport or Irish passport card is in date.
The operators say the change is required to comply with UK Border Force rules concerning the accuracy and integrity of passenger information collected before boarding.
This new passport rule appears to be part of the UK’s move towards a more digital, automated border system, requiring ferry operators to provide accurate, verifiable passenger information before departure. Passports make it easier to confirm travellers’ identities, nationalities and immigration permissions, so the measure is connected to immigration and border security in that operational sense; however, authorities have not linked it to any particular immigration incident or increase in illegal migration. It does not alter the Common Travel Area rights of Irish and British citizens, who remain exempt from visas and the UK’s Electronic Travel
What were the previous rules?
Under the Common Travel Area, Irish and British citizens are not generally legally required to present a passport when travelling between the two countries.
UK government guidance still says that Irish and British citizens travelling from Ireland to Great Britain may establish their identity and nationality using documentation other than a current passport.
Previously, ferry companies could accept alternative identification from Irish and British passengers. Depending on the operator and passenger’s age, this could include a driving licence or other official photographic ID.
Irish Ferries’ earlier guidance also said that British and Irish passengers under 18 without photographic identification could usually travel with a birth certificate.
This new requirement is therefore principally a stricter carrier check-in policy. It does not remove the travel and residency rights enjoyed by Irish and British citizens under the Common Travel Area.
Government guidance also makes clear that ferry operators may impose their own documentary requirements.
The change does not affect Stena Line’s services from Belfast to Liverpool, Cairnryan or Heysham. Passengers using other routes or operators should check the identification rules applying to their particular booking before travelling.
Government leaders are considering whether to recall the Dáil ahead of schedule as renewed instability in the Middle East raises concerns about fuel prices.
Temporary excise reductions introduced in April are due to be withdrawn gradually from September. The relief amounts to 32 cent per litre of diesel and 27 cent per litre of petrol and formed part of a €750 million package of business supports and cost-of-living measures.
Enterprise Minister Mr Peter Burke indicated that the timetable is being actively reassessed. The international outlook has worsened since the withdrawal schedule was agreed, with developments around the Strait of Hormuz contributing to uncertainty in global energy markets.
The Dáil is currently scheduled to return on September 16th next,. however, an earlier sitting may be required if the Government decides that legislation is needed to postpone the planned excise increases.
Rising costs are already placing additional pressure on agriculture and the wider economy. The net price of marked gas oil, commonly known as green diesel, has increased from about 94 cent to €1.24 per litre, a rise of approximately 30%.
Any extension of the fuel-tax relief would also have budgetary implications. The Government is preparing an overall Budget 2027 package worth more than €8 billion, including €1.5 billion for income-tax measures and an anticipated spending increase of around 6%.
Ministers are also examining ways to lower grocery prices by reducing transport, production and distribution costs. Because fuel expenses affect farming, manufacturing and the movement of goods, further increases could feed through to prices paid by consumers.
No final decision has been made on either the excise timetable or an early Dáil recall. Both options remain under consideration as the Government monitors international developments and prices at Irish fuel pumps.
Train services have resumed between Thurles and Limerick Junction following a tragic incident near Dundrum, Co Tipperary, earlier today.
The line was closed for several hours while emergency services attended the scene, disrupting Dublin services to and from Cork, Kerry and Limerick. Bus transfers were arranged for affected passengers, with delays of 60 minutes or more reported.
Iarnród Éireann has confirmed that trains are operating again, although some residual delays may continue. Passengers should check the latest travel information before beginning their journeys.
Motorists are advised that temporary traffic management measures will operate on the R659 through Stradavoher and Ballycarrane, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, from tomorrow, Thursday, 13th August, until Friday, 14th August 2026.
A Stop/Go traffic-control system will be in place for the duration of the works. Delays are expected, and road users should allow additional travel time when passing through the area.
Drivers are asked to approach with caution, follow all traffic-management signage and cooperate with personnel on site.
A brief pause at a junction could prevent a death on Ireland’s roads.
Above is the message behind a new Road Safety Authority campaign asking motorists to check twice for motorcycles before entering a road, particularly when pulling out from a T-junction.
Sixteen motorcyclists have already died on Irish roads this year, adding urgency to the campaign.
The danger often develops in an instant. A driver reaches a junction, checks both directions and begins to move. An approaching motorcycle, however, may have blended into the background or appeared farther away than it really was.
Unlike a car or van, a motorcycle occupies very little of a driver’s field of vision. This can make both its presence and its approaching speed difficult to judge during a quick check.
The RSA wants motorists to break that routine by pausing and looking once more before proceeding.
Evidence gathered between 2021 and 2025 shows why that extra check matters. During those five years, 954 motorcyclists suffered serious injuries, while 117 lost their lives. Around two-thirds of the riders seriously injured were involved in crashes with another vehicle.
Road Safety Authority confirm that failure to observe was the action most frequently identified in those multi-vehicle incidents. Junctions were also the scene of 38% of serious motorcyclist injuries.
The campaign arrives during a period when greater numbers of motorcycles are likely to be on the road. Drivers are being asked to approach junctions slowly, remove distractions and allow themselves enough time to make a proper assessment.
Motorcyclists may be smaller and less visible than other vehicles, but they have the same right to be seen and protected.
Before pulling out, pause and check again. The bike missed on the first look could be visible on the second.
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