Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

100. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons of Syrian, Eritrean, Afghan and Iraqi origin who were refused leave to land at points of entry here in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3946/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I can inform the Deputy that in the period concerned the number of persons refused leave to land at approved ports of entry to the State from the nationalities referred to by the Deputy was as follows: Afghan 178, Eritrean 7, Iraqi 26 and Syrian 37. In respect of the nationalities referred to by the Deputy, a total of 57 sought asylum and were admitted to the State to make a protection application. Information on numbers refused permission to enter the State may be subject to revision over time where individual cases are examined further and the status of some cases may change.

In general a person may be refused leave to land on one, or more, of the grounds set out in Section 4(3) of the Immigration Act 2004 (as amended).

Every person refused leave to land in the State is served with a notice in which the reason, or reasons, for refusing an application for permission to enter the State is set out.

I would advise the Deputy that persons refused leave to land and who are subsequently removed from the State are returned to their point of embarkation, which in most cases is within the EU. I would point out in relation to the countries concerned that no commercial direct flights to Ireland are available from these countries.