Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
1052. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons that have refused to fill in their details on the passenger locator form since it was introduced; the number of persons refused entry to the State for non-compliance in respect of the locator form; and if she will provide a breakdown of same to include sea ports and airports. [20632/20]
View answerThe Border Management Unit of the Department of Justice and Equality, has responsibility for securing Ireland’s border at Dublin Airport in accordance with the provisions of the Immigration Acts and Orders as they relate to entry and refusal of entry to the State. The Unit has also been collecting and checking Public Health Passenger Locator Forms at Dublin Airport since 28th April 2020.
The mandatory regime, as set out in the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19 Passenger Locator Form) Regulations 2020, for completion of Public Health Passenger Locator Forms by all arriving passengers into the State (excluding the exempt categories) came into effect on 28 May 2020. Any passenger refusing to complete the mandatory form at Dublin Airport is referred to the Garda National Immigration Bureau. To date, three passengers at Dublin Airport have been referred for refusing to complete a form. None of these passengers were refused entry to the State but were dealt with by GNIB in accordance with the regulations.
The Border Management Unit is responsible for immigration duties at Dublin Airport only, therefore, it does not hold data on the numbers of passengers who refused to complete Passenger Locator Forms at other ports of entry nationwide.
In order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have requested the data with respect to other ports of entry from An Garda Síochána and it will be sent to the Deputy as soon as it is received.
