Paul McGrath
Question:682 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will forward the additional information which was promised in response to Parliamentary Question No. 408 of 8 April 2003. [12355/03]
Written Answers. - Garda Operations.
I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that, with the exception of the three charter flights referred to in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 408 of 8 April 2003, the precise number of escorted deportations and the level of accompanying escorts in 2002 is not available. I am informed that efforts were made to compile the information but records are not kept in a way that would enable statistics to be provided in the manner sought without a disproportionate level of resources being employed. The Garda national immigration bureau is responsible for effecting removals from the State including the escorting of deportees while on flights. The Garda Commissioner has advised me that all persons being deported are individually risk assessed by the Garda. This prior assessment determines the level of escort, if any, required. Where direct scheduled flights are available and subject to the agreement of the carrier concerned, deportees normally travel unescorted. This does not apply in cases of removal pursuant to the Dublin Convention where escorts are provided because the persons being removed must be handed over on arrival to the local immigration authorities. Where direct flights are not available persons are escorted to, at least, a transit airport. In cases where persons are not in possession of valid travel documents, escorts are required to travel to the point of final destination due to airline and local immigration requirements.
Where the risk assessment results in a Garda escort, it is the general policy of the Garda national immigration bureau to allocate, on scheduled flights, two escorts per deportee for the first two deportees in any one group and thereafter one additional escort per additional deportee. The Commissioner further informs me that the Garda national immigration bureau is in the process of drawing up a best practice procedures manual on the removal and escorting of persons being deported from the State. This manual will, inter alia, set out procedures on the number and types of escorts to be used during removal operations.