Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
59. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Justice if he can clarify the procedure in relation to decisions by the Border Management Unit to refuse permission to board for visitors intending to come into the State, specifically if the Garda National Immigration Bureau keeps a record of such refusals; the reason for such refusals; and if he will detail the number of such refusals in the last year. [17652/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Border Management Unit (BMU) of my Department has responsibility for frontline immigration duties at Dublin Airport only. Other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).
The Border Management Unit and the GNIB work closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers possess correct documentation when boarding flights abroad. Border Management Unit officials are available 24/7 to assist airlines with queries they have in relation to immigration matters.
I can confirm that on occasion an airline may contact the BMU to seek advice regarding the admissibility of a passenger, regardless of their nationality, seeking to enter the State. There is also general information available in the public domain and on request as to standard entry requirements for various purposes. While the BMU will provide guidance on whether a passenger is likely to be admitted to the State, the final decision to board a passenger is a decision of that carrier, and there is no requirement that a carrier contact the Irish authorities before coming to such a decision.
Any passenger not boarded abroad has not been refused entry to the State and therefore is not classified as a refusal of leave to land. As a result, BMU do not hold a record of persons refused permission to board abroad, nor would it be practical, purposeful, or within BMU's functions to require each carrier to retain and collate such details.
Records are of course available in respect of decisions taken to refuse leave to land upon arrival in the State and I can forward these to the Deputy if that would be of assistance. The number of such refusals annually is tiny when set against the overall number of arrivals into the State.
