Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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562. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she intends to reopen the regularisation of long-term undocumented migrants' scheme in the future; and, if not, if she intends to introduce a permanent legal framework to regularise the status of children and families in irregular migration situations. [57945/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The scheme for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants closed on 31 July 2022 and the online application process for the scheme has now closed and no further applications will be accepted.

This was a once in a generation scheme, designed to give long-term undocumented people without a current immigration permission to remain in the State, the chance to regularise their status, access the labour market and begin their path to citizenship.

My Department had significant engagement with the NGOs in this sector before and during the timeframe for applications and also widely advertised the scheme in advance of and during the 6 month window it was open. Additionally, a targeted media campaign was launched during the final weeks of the scheme.

Where a person remains resident in the State without an immigration permission I encourage them to contact the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) area of my Department or their local immigration office and to take all the appropriate steps to regularise their status.

Any application submitted should explain their current circumstances and future intentions in the State and provide any documentation they feel will support their application. In all cases, people must engage with the authorities if they wish to be permitted to remain here legally.

The Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) area examines each application to remain in the State on a case-by-case basis and has consistently urged anyone in this position to come forward if they wish to apply to regularise their immigration position in the State.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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563. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if her attention has been drawn to the resumption of pre-immigration passport checks on flights arriving at Dublin Airport; the purpose of these checks; the legislative basis for same; the number of arriving flights which have been subject to these checks, the origin of these flights; the number of persons who have been refused disembarkation from an aircraft as a result of these checks in each of the past 12 months in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57962/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the State has a duty to protect its borders and to ensure that all arriving passengers are entitled to enter the State. This is a fundamental exercise of State sovereignty, which is necessary to protect the security of the State and to prevent illegal immigration. The exercise of powers in this area is at all times subject to the law and to respect for individual rights.

The Border Management Unit (BMU) of my Department has responsibility for frontline immigration duties at Dublin Airport only. Other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), including the border with Northern Ireland. For security reasons and to protect the integrity of the immigration system, I cannot comment on detailed operational procedures.

I can inform the Deputy that from November 2021 to October of this year, 7,468 people were refused permission to land at Dublin Airport. Of this figure, 4,889 people arrived undocumented. While these passengers should have presented documents at their point of departure, they were no longer in possession of those documents when they disembarked the aircraft or when they reached the immigration desks at Dublin airport.

Under Section 4 of the Immigration Act 2004, an Immigration Officer must determine whether a non-EEA national should be granted leave to land and thus gain entry to the State. In performing their duties, an Immigration Officer is required to consider all of the circumstances of the non-EEA national at the time of entry and may be refused entry if they do not comply with immigration requirements. It should be noted that if a person indicates or is identified as being in need of international protection, they are admitted to the international protection process.

Total Refusal Numbers last 12 months (November 2021 – October 2022)