Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 15 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 1

Written Answers. - Garda Operations.

Ivor Callely

Ceist:

111 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress and success of the Garda National Immigration Bureau to date; if the bureau has the required support structures in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25693/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

The Government approved the setting up of the Garda National Immigration Bureau on 9 May 2000. The bureau commenced operations on 23 May 2000 and currently comprises 39 members of the Garda Síochána from the ranks of garda up to chief superintendent. In addition, the complement of clerical support staff has recently been increased from ten to 24 to facilitate the release of Garda personnel who had been engaged in administrative work for operational duties. I can assure the Deputy that any resources which were identified to me by the Garda authorities as being necessary have been provided.

The Garda National Immigration Bureau is responsible for the monitoring and tracking of non-nationals who are the subject of deportation orders; the effective co-ordination of activities leading to the execution of deportation orders; the effective co-ordination of operational strategies and resources from point of entry into the State – airports, ports and border crossings; the co-ordination and direction of strategies to combat trafficking in illegal immigrants; the strengthening of international liaison arrangements on relevant immigration issues including liaison with Garda liaison officers based abroad; the provision of non-national registration service – the immigration registration office – and the enforcement of immigration law generally.

The bureau has established international liaison arrangements with immigration authorities in both the United Kingdom and France which are major transit points for illegal immigration into the State, with a particular focus on trafficking activity. These arrangements include the placement of permanent liaison officers in the Irish embassies in both London and Paris. The bureau has also been closely involved in the training of immigration officers throughout the State in relation to new procedures which will apply following the commencement of the Refugee Act, 1996, on 20 November 2000. In addition, the opening hours of the immigration registration office in Dublin have been extended in order to cater for the large numbers of non-nationals who are required to register there.

In the area of deportation, I can inform the Deputy that 22 persons were deported between November 1999, when deportations commenced under the provisions of the Immigration Act, 1999, and 23 May 2000 when the Garda National Immigration Bureau was established. Since then, a further 109 persons have been deported representing a significant increase over the previous comparable period.

I intend to keep the resources necessary for the effective functioning of the Garda National Immigration Bureau under ongoing review in consultation with the Garda Commissioner in light of operational experience gleaned and in the light of trends in illegal immigration and trafficking generally.