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Passport Controls

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 May 2013

Tuesday, 28 May 2013

Questions (538)

Andrew Doyle

Question:

538. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the opening hour restrictions that are in place at the self service passport control facilities as part of the immigration services in Dublin Airport; if he is considering making provision for this to be used on a 24 hour basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25856/13]

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Written answers

The Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service, INIS, recently commenced a six-month trial of automated border control gates, e-gates, at Pier A/D of Terminal One in Dublin Airport. The e-gates offer certain categories of arriving passengers - passport holders from EU states including Ireland, EEA states and Switzerland who are over 18 years of age and hold a first generation biometric passport i.e. with an electronic chip which contains the holder's facial image - a self-service type channel to clear immigration control. The purpose of the trial is to test the suitability of this technology for use at Dublin Airport with a view to providing a more secure and efficient means for clearing passengers through immigration control. The results of the trial will be evaluated before a decision is taken on the future use of such technology in the border control process, including the hours of operation.

For the trial period the gates will operate between the times of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. which has been agreed for the purposes of testing and evaluating the technology. While the gates in question have only been in operation for a little over a month and for the restricted hours as outlined, the general feedback to date from the travelling public has been quite positive.

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