Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 April 2024
453. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice how many prosecutions have been initiated in respect of alleged offenses under section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004; the outcome of any such prosecutions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17722/24]
View answerThe State has a duty to protect its borders and following examination, ensure that all arriving passengers are entitled to enter the State. This is a fundamental exercise of State sovereignty, which is necessary to protect the security of the State and to prevent illegal immigration. The exercise of powers in this area is at all times subject to the law and to respect for individual rights.
The Border Management Unit (BMU) of my Department and the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) work closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers have the appropriate travel documentation when boarding. Immigration officials are available 24/7 to assist airlines with queries in relation to immigration matters.
In addition to providing advice to airlines on specific queries, training is provided to airline ground staff on current travel documentation requirements to help them reduce the number of passengers boarding flights without correct documentation.
The Department of Justice has recorded a 34% reduction in 2023 in the number of persons arriving in the State without the correct documentation. Q1 in 2024 has seen a further reduction in the numbers arriving without documentation. This is based on the work that the Department’s Border Management Unit is doing with GNIB.
It is an offence under Section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004, for a non national to arrive in the state not in possession of a valid passport or equivalent document. As the Deputy will be aware, the prosecution of offences in these instances are a matter for An Garda Síochána and the Director of Public Prosecutions, who are independent in the exercise of their functions in this regard; as Minister I have no role in such prosecutions. Information in relation to the number of relevant prosecutions has been sought from An Garda Síochána.
