Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 612: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will require legal non-EU immigrants and their children to carry biometric identification cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3247/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004 places a requirement on a foreign national to produce on demand, unless he or she can give a satisfactory explanation as to why he or she is prevented from doing so, a valid passport or equivalent document establishing his or her identity and, also, his or her registration certificate where he or she is required to register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau. This requirement does not extend to foreign nationals under the age of 16 years. Section 109 of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill, which was published on 29 January 2008, proposes to continue this requirement with the substitution of a reference to a permit for the current reference to a registration certificate. Also, the provision applies to all foreign nationals, including those under 16 years of age. Section 34 of the Bill sets out the information to be contained in a permit. It includes a provision whereby information relating to the holder, including biometric information, may be contained in the permit where so prescribed. With the introduction of the Automatic Fingerprint Identification System, I envisage the inclusion of fingerprints on permits in the near future.