Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 8 Feb 2000

Vol. 513 No. 6

Written Answers. - Passenger Surveillance.

Gay Mitchell

Question:

189 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will investigate the use of bar codes and video photography in the security measures used by Gatwick Airport for passengers travelling to this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3011/00]

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Cowen)

I understand that the Deputy is referring to the new system for passenger departures which was introduced at the south terminal at Gatwick Airport on 1 July 1999.

I am informed by the British Authorities that, under this new system, a still image is taken of each passenger by a video camera situated in plain view behind the security officer. A bar code sticker linked to this image is attached to the passenger's boarding card, and the passenger then proceeds to the departure lounge. On leaving the lounge to go to the appropriate departure gate, passengers pass another desk, where a security officer can scan the bar code and immediately see the video photo to confirm that the person carrying the boarding pass is the person to whom it was issued. The physical sticker with the bar code number is the only link between the image and the boarding pass – the boarding pass is not scanned into the system, and no name or other personal information is associated with the photo. All photos are deleted at the end of the following day.

This system applies to all passengers using the south terminal, which handles international flights; flights to Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Belfast and Newcastle, which are flights within the common travel area; and flights to the Channel Islands, which are not part of the European Union. The new system was introduced to ease the handling of passengers travelling to these various destinations.

I am informed that the new system allows all passengers using the terminal to use the facilities of the international departures lounge, irrespective of destination.