Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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326. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to reports that over 5,000 persons arrived at Dublin Airport in 2022 without valid documentation or with no documentation at all (details supplied); if he agrees that this constitutes an egregious abuse of the immigration process; the steps he will take to combat this phenomenon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5949/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that I am familiar with the figures referred to and that the matter is the subject of close attention. In particular, Immigration Officials in my Department are actively engaging with airport authorities and airlines at a senior level to underscore the importance of passengers possessing correct documentation and to provide support in helping them to reduce the number of passengers boarding flights without the correct documentation.

My Department’s Border Management Unit and the Garda National Immigration Bureau are working closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers have such documentation when boarding.

My Department has engaged with 19 separate airlines to date and Border Management Unit officials are available 24/7 to assist airlines with queries they have in relation to immigration matters.

By way of background I should note that under Section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004, any person entering the State at Dublin Airport or at any other port of entry, must be in possession of a valid passport or other equivalent document, issued by or on behalf of an authority recognised by the Government, which establishes his or her identity and nationality to the satisfaction of an Immigration Officer.

If a person indicates or is identified as being in need of international protection they are admitted to the international protection process.

The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process. This is especially important in the context of persons who enter the Irish State for the purposes of making a claim for international protection.