I am from northern Ireland and my boyfriend is Italian. Currently you cant even travel between the North and the Republic without a 'valid reason'. You will receive a 500 euro fine if you are travelling without an again "valid reason". The list of valid reasons that the Irish government provides not include 'travelling to see your partner, who you would call 'family'. The closest thing they have is "vital family reasons" which sounds like you are travelling because a family member has died. What is ridiculous is that Italy is receiving people who have travelled to see their partners who can provide boarder control with evidence of a 'stable relationship' (you don't have to be married or even cohabiting). The problem is getting out of Ireland without a travel fine because you want to see your boyfriend/girlfriend/partner. You would think that the rules would be the same on both sides. What the Irish Government is not getting is that love is not tourism. the purpose of my travel to Italy is not for a holiday. I am sure there are many other couples in the same situation. 

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