Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 October 2018
278. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to reorganise immigration in Dublin Airport such that domestic travellers and travellers originating within the common travel area do not have to queue to pass through passport control; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42208/18]
View answerThere is no requirement for citizens of either jurisdiction to carry passports when travelling within the Common Travel Area (CTA). However, it is the case that airline carriers in many instances require their passengers to have a passport in possession before allowing them to board the aircraft. As such, this is not an immigration requirement.
Unlike the operational practices at some UK airports, there is generally no segregation of arriving passengers at Irish ports of entry to the State. Consequently, Immigration Officers performing immigration control duties at airports in the State do not know where passengers have travelled from when such passengers present at immigration control desks.
It is therefore necessary for Immigration Officers to establish where passengers have arrived from, and in order to do this, an Immigration Officer may ask passengers questions with a view to establishing their nationality and port of embarkation. Once satisfied that a person is a citizen of the CTA and that such person has travelled from the United Kingdom, the Immigration Officer will make no further requirement of that person.
The organisation of the infrastructure for arrival of aircraft at Dublin Airport has developed over many years and any changes to it is a matter for the Dublin Airport Authority. My officials are not aware of any such plans in this regard.
