Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 February 2024
344. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Justice the number of fines issued to airlines for allowing people into the country without documentation in the past five years, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8922/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) has responsibility for issuing Carrier Liability, notices and warnings and for the imposition of Carrier Liability Fines on carriers who permit a non-national to travel with their airline or ferry without the necessary documentation, as per the provisions under Section 2(1) of the Immigration Act 2003.
It is not the Department’s assessment that passengers are boarding planes without any documentation, but rather that they are presenting documentation, sometimes false, sometimes not validly issued to them, but are no longer in possession of that documentation when they arrive at border control.
The fines paid over the last five years are provided below.
|
Year |
Amount for year |
|
|
2019 |
€1,003,470 |
|
|
2020 |
|
€624,000 |
|
2021 |
|
€826,500 |
|
2022 |
€1,102,500 |
|
|
2023 |
€1,476,000 |
The number of fines issued in 2023 and 2022 was 990 and 958 respectively. Information is not readily available on the number issued in the previous three years but has been sought from the Garda authorities.
In parallel, and in support of these obligations, Immigration Officials are actively engaging with airport authorities and airlines at a senior level to underscore the importance of passengers possessing correct documentation and to provide support in helping them to reduce the number of passengers boarding flights without the correct documentation.
The Border Management Unit and the GNIB are working closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers have such documentation when boarding. Border Management Unit officials are available 24/7 to assist airlines with queries they have in relation to immigration matters.
2023 has seen a reduction of one third in the number of persons arriving at Dublin Airport without the correct documentation.
I can further advise the Deputy that my officials have begun a review of the Carrier Liability provisions.
