Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 376: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, further to the recently conducted evaluation at Weston Aerodrome by the Garda National Immigration Bureau, immigration officers will be deployed to the aerodrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29318/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Section 6 of the Immigration Act, 2004 states that a non-national coming by sea or air from outside the State shall not, without the consent of the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform, land elsewhere than at an approved port. A non-national who lands in the State in contravention of the said section of the Act of 2004, is deemed to be a non-national who has been refused a permission to land in the State, and is guilty of an offence.

The Immigration Act, 2003 (Approved Ports) Regulations 2003, came into operation on 19th September 2003. In these regulations "the Order" means the Alien's Order 1946 (S.R & O. No. 395 of 1946). For the purposes of the Order, the ports specified in Part 1 of the Schedule to the said Regulations set out the approved ports for non-nationals arriving in the State from places outside the State other than Great Britain or Northern Ireland. Part 2 of the Schedule to the said Regulations set out the approved ports for non-nationals arriving in the State from Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Weston airport is not among the ports specified in either Part 1 or Part 2 of the Immigration Act, 2003 (Approved Ports) Regulations 2003. Therefore, a non-national who lands at that airport, without the consent of the Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform, is deemed to be a non-national who has landed without permission and commits an offence contrary to the provisions of Section 6(4) of the Immigration Act, 2004, in doing so.

The Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform, gave consent, pursuant to the provisions of Section 6(1) of Immigration Act, 2004, to non-nationals to arrive at Weston airport for a period surrounding the holding of the Ryder Cup golf tournament. During that period of time, Immigration Officers attached to the Garda National Immigration Bureau were present at the airport concerned, at times when non-nationals were due to arrive, for the purpose of implementing relevant provisions of immigration related legislation.

The purpose of recent meetings held between management at the Garda National Immigration Bureau and personnel involved in the operation of Weston airport is to ensure that the airport authorities are fully aware of immigration related legislation pertaining to Ports.

There are currently no plans to deploy Immigration Officers to Weston airport as recent representations for Ministerial consent for this airport to be prescribed as an approved port will require detailed consideration and will take some time to finalise.