Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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169. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of the 7,455 persons that were refused entry here in 2019 that were subsequently detained in a prison or Garda station or transferred to a prison or Garda station. [23135/20]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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170. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons refused entry here from 27 March 2020 to date; the number that were subsequently detained and transferred to a prison or Garda station; and the length of time they were detained. [23136/20]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 170 together.

Section 5 of the Immigration Act 2003 (as amended by the International Protection Act 2015), contains the main provisions dealing with the detention of persons refused leave to land. It specifies that a person to whom this section applies may be arrested by an immigration officer or a member of An Garda Síochána and detained in a prescribed place of detention for the purpose of facilitating their removal from the State, which must be as soon as is practicable.

It is the general practice to remove persons from the State on the next available flight or ship.

The numbers of persons refused leave to land by the Border Management Unit (BMU) of my Department at Dublin Airport since 27 March 2020 are as follows:

The BMU has responsibility for frontline immigration services at Dublin Airport only and other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).

I have asked An Garda Síochána to compile the necessary information from the individual districts. It has not been possible in the time available to provide these details and I will communicate the information to the Deputy once it is available from An Garda Síochána.

Should any person who has been refused leave to land in the State seek entry to the State at a future point, their application will be assessed on its own merits taking all relevant information into consideration at that time. Their prior immigration history is a matter of record but it does not preclude them from seeking permission to enter the State in the future.