Vol. 481 No. 7
22 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of the Border controls with the United Kingdom; the basis on which the Garda checks entrants to the State; the length of time such controls will be in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16860/97]
The Aliens (Amendment) (No. 3) Order, 1997, (S. I. No. 277 of 1997) which came into operation on 29 June 1997, provides that an immigration officer may examine a non-national arriving in the State from Great Britain or Northern Ireland for the purpose of determining whether he or she should be given leave to land in the State. The effect of the measure is to introduce into Irish law a requirement that non-EU nationals seeking to enter Ireland from Britain or Northern Ireland must meet the same entry requirements as non-EU nationals seeking to enter Ireland from any other part of the world. In accordance with the statutory provisions, an immigration officer may refuse leave to land to a non-national who, for example, is not in possession of a valid passport or some other document establishing his nationality or identity, or who does not have a valid Irish visa where required. I have no proposals for a change in the present situation.
