Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2013
714. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the practice of imposing passport controls on air bridges between the doors of airplanes and the airport was commenced by GNIB at Dublin Airport; if its purpose is to prevent asylum seekers entering the State; if he concerned that it might have such an effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27410/13]
View answerI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department that from time to time and on an intelligence led basis, immigration officers attached to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), who are based at Dublin Airport, conduct immigration controls at the door of or on board aircraft which have arrived at the Airport. The undertaking of immigration controls in such manner is done to address a situation where non-nationals approach an immigration control booth and claim not to be in possession of a passport or equivalent travel document and not to know where they have travelled from.
Such checks enable immigration officers attached to GNIB to establish the true identity, nationality and age of non-nationals who have arrived in the State and the route on which they have travelled, in circumstances where it was intended that such information would not be provided or discovered.
In every case where a non-national makes an application for asylum, including where a non-national is encountered at the door of, or on board, an aircraft, such application is dealt with pursuant to the provisions of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended), including being granted entry to the State for the purpose of pursuing their asylum application.
I should also point out that it is an offence under section 20 of the Refugee Act of 1996 (as amended) for a person claiming asylum to destroy or conceal travel/identity documents and to make any statement or give information that is knowingly false or misleading.
