Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 December 2020
302. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of times for the period from 2004 to date UK immigration officials have been present in Irish airports or ports whether this be in any role, including advisory or training course or exercise; when and the location this has this taken place; the role of liaison officers; the departments and location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40803/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt has always been the case that Ireland and the United Kingdom cooperate closely on immigration matters, particularly relating to securing the Common Travel Area (CTA). There are excellent working relationships at official and political level in relation to enhancing the operation of the CTA and Ireland is committed to the continuation of same. In this regard, a central feature of the operation of the CTA has been that each State enforces the other's conditions of landing for non-EEA nationals, thus protecting each other's borders.
Officials of my Department and the UK Home Office meet regularly at the Common Travel Area Forum jointly chaired by the Director of the Immigration Service and their UK counterpart. The Forum acts as a steering committee for the ongoing work of protecting the CTA in relation to free movement of people between our countries while at the same time ensuring that it is not abused by those not entitled to avail of it. It provides a framework for a more strategic approach for the excellent co-operation between Ireland and the United Kingdom in this key policy area.
The Border Management Unit and the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) liaise directly with United Kingdom Common Travel Area Liaison Officers of the UK Home Office on an operational day-to-day basis. Due to the current Covid-19 crisis these officers have not attended operational meetings in the State since March 2020.
Since 2003, the GNIB has conducted joint operations with the UK Immigration Service to combat immigration abuses within the Common Travel Area. On occasions, a liaison officer from the UK Immigration Service has been present, as an observer, while checks were conducted at Irish ports and airports. GNIB staff were similarly deployed in the UK, as observers. Such operations were conducted to specifically target, detect, and prevent illegal immigration into the State which included land borders with Northern Ireland. These operations are in addition to the day to day immigration controls at all air, sea and land borders.
Irish Immigration Officials have also, on occasion, deployed to other European ports/airports to liaise with local immigration authorities, as observers, to prevent illegal immigration into the State.
It is not possible to provide details of the number of times for the period from 2004 to date on which UK immigration officials have been present in Irish airports or ports as it would take an inordinate amount of time to complete.
