Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
328. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice what steps are being taken by her Department to prevent the destruction of passport documents following embarkation from the country of origin and arrival at border control on Irish shores; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49427/23]
View answer329. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide, in tabular form, the number of international protection applicants, listed by country of origin, who passed through Irish border control without passport documentation in the years 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49428/23]
View answer330. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Justice if there are any plans to improve the immigration controls at Irish ports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49429/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 328, 329 and 330 together.
Immigration officials conduct passport checks on arrival to ensure passengers are properly documented in accordance with Section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004. The exercise of powers in this area is at all times subject to the law and to respect for individual rights.
The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process. This is especially important in the context of persons who enter the Irish State for the purposes of making a claim for international protection. Irrespective of whether an applicant for international protection presents valid identity documentation at their point of arrival, over the course of the international protection determination process, they will be required to substantiate their claim for protection including as to their identity and country of origin.
The Border Management Unit (BMU) of my Department has responsibility for frontline immigration duties at Dublin Airport only. Other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).
For security reasons and to protect the integrity of the immigration system, both I and my Department do not comment in detail on operational procedures of the BMU or the GNIB.
However, I can assure the Deputy that both the BMU and the GNIB are working with airlines and international colleagues to take measures both at domestic airports and points of embarkation to address this issue and to identify the point of embarkation of undocumented passengers. In addition to providing advice to airlines on specific queries, training is provided to airline ground staff on current travel documentation requirements.
If a person arriving at a port of entry to the State indicates or is identified as being in need of international protection they are admitted to the international protection process. My Department examines applications for international protection by anyone who indicates they wish to make an application, this is in accordance with our obligations under international and EU asylum law.
The International Protection Office does not collate statistics relating to applications for international protection based on whether such applicants were refused leave to land or whether a person had valid documentation upon arrival at a port of entry.
