Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 January 2014
584. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Justice and Equality with regard to the 1,890 persons refused entry into the State in 2013, the number and the categories for refusal at each port of entry; the nationality of persons refused leave to land; the number and nationality of persons who subsequently applied under the Refugee Act 1996 and were permitted to remain in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3819/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the principal reasons persons are refused permission to land are as follows:
- that there is reason to believe that the person intends to enter the State for purposes other than those expressed by the non-national concerned;
- the person is not in possession of a valid Irish visa and is not exempt from this requirement;
- the person concerned is not in possession of a valid passport or other equivalent document; or
- the person concerned intends to travel (whether immediately or not) to the UK and would not qualify for admission had they come directly to the UK.
The principal nationalities of persons refused permission to land in the State and subsequently removed were Brazil, South Africa, China, Nigeria and Albania.
The figure quoted by the Deputy is provisional and subject to change. For example, persons may be refused permission to land in the State and subsequently permitted to enter the State having made an application pursuant to the Immigration Acts or the Refugee Act,1996. In that regard the latest available statistics indicate that 1,877 persons were refused permission to land in the State last year taking into account those who were subsequently permitted to enter. An additional 210 persons made application pursuant to the Refugee Act 1996 at port of entry.
A more detailed breakdown of the categories concerned is not readily available.
I might add that in all cases, removals from the State, whether in respect of those who are removed on arrival at ports of entry or those already in the State, are conducted in accordance with the law with removals at the Port of Entry being, essentially, an operational matter for the Garda National Immigration Bureau.
The removal of illegal immigrants from the State is a necessary feature of the enforcement of immigration legislation with the purpose of upholding the integrity of the immigration system. In enforcing the law in this respect, Ireland is no different from other countries who also remove individuals who have no lawful right to remain within their territory.
