The statement that 'Both the British and Irish governments will work to hold onto this system' (of the common travel area) seems in the current climate (of Theres May's relentless and reckless statements to 'regain control of our borders' more wishful thinking than anything else. More fundamentally, Ireland opted to be a republic and not a member of the British commonwealth long ago.  Suggesting that it now leave the multi-national and multi-cultural venture in transnational democracy that is the EU, and instead now join a narrow 'Anglosphere' would be a remarkable reversal of Irish history and its view of its place in the world.