Vol. 529 No. 2
152 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the procedures followed by immigration officers at airports to ascertain full information concerning any non-EU citizen who has a visa to enter here; the facilities available to these officers at all times, day or night, to get this information; and if he will make a statement as to whether he is satisfied with the procedures as currently operated. [2635/01]
The grounds upon which an immigration officer may refuse leave to land to a person arriving in the State, whether that person is visa required or not, are set out section 5(2) of the Aliens Order, 1946, as amended. In cases where consideration is being given to the refusal of a passenger under these provisions, immigration officers have access to advice from local Garda management as well as from members of the Garda national immigration bureau together with the services of professional translators as necessary.
Immigration officers will often also carry out enquiries with relevant third parties, including persons awaiting the passenger's arrival in the State. A facility is also available to contact officials in my Department on a 24 hour basis who may in turn may make further enquiries with the Department of Foreign Affairs duty officer if necessary. Such contact can of course be made directly during normal working hours. In addition, at my instigation an arrangement is now being put in place which will provide for an out of office hours channel of communication between immigration officers and the work permit section of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
Finally, I should point out that the Garda national immigration bureau, which was established last June, has overall responsibility for immigration controls at ports of entry to the State and is developing this service on an ongoing basis, based on its assessment of the operational needs arising.
