Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister is conflating two slightly different things. One is a requirement to have a passport when embarking in the State and the other is the right to claim asylum. I am not saying that those who arrive without a passport do not have the right to claim asylum. They do. However, they are still subject to the laws of the land while claiming asylum, including the requirement to present a passport on arrival. It certainly is the case that millions of people throughout the world flee countries without passports but they do not get on a flight to Dublin Airport without a passport. We all know that. My question is not why people are allowed to claim asylum. Of course people are allowed to claim asylum. It is our international obligation. My question is why are people who are in breach of a strict liability offence not being prosecuted in the State? Who is giving the order not to do so? Is it coming from senior Garda management, the Garda National Immigration Bureau, GNIB, or the Government? The law is not being applied. This brings the law into disrepute at some point. The question is not why people are allowed to claim asylum. I know why they are allowed to claim asylum. We have an international obligation and as decent human beings, we have a requirement to allow people to claim asylum. Why are people not being prosecuted for presenting at Dublin Airport without valid identity documents? That is my question and I would like an answer.

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