Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 November 2004
349 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the reason US officials are taking Irish citizens’ information and fingerprinting on Irish soil; if this is a breach of the Constitution; and if there is a role for the Council of State on this issue. [31025/04]
View answerUnder current US Government immigration requirements, all foreign travellers, including Irish travellers, must provide fingerprints and other information to the US immigration authorities for entry to the US.
In Ireland, pre-clearance facilities for US bound passengers exist at Dublin and Shannon Airports. These facilities are operated in accordance with the Air Navigation and Transport (Preinspection) Act 1986 by US immigration personnel. These pre-clearance facilities enable Irish travellers to avoid the often lengthy queues and delays on arrival at US airports where the immigration procedures in question would otherwise be carried out.
The Attorney General's office has advised my Department that the procedures at the Irish pre-clearance facilities come within the scope of the 1986 Act.
