Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 October 2018
192. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which immigration officers are visiting employers throughout the country with a view to identifying undocumented employees for deportation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44594/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been informed by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that immigration officers who are civilian staff within INIS do not carry out visits of the nature referred to by the Deputy.
The Deputy may be referring to immigration officers who are members of An Garda Síochána - usually as part of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) - who carry out a range of immigration functions and enforce Deportation Orders issued by the Minister.
During the normal course of their duties members of An Garda Síochána may check individuals and premises where they have reason to believe that persons maybe in the State illegally or being employed illegally. Inspectors of the Workplace Relations Commission also have an important role in this area. Any persons found to be illegally in the State are referred to INIS for the formal procedures of consideration of whether to issue a deportation order or not in accordance with Section 3(6) of the immigration act. This is a detailed process with the person concerned having the opportunity to make representations and all aspects of each individual case is fully considered before a final decision is made.
