Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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5. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who arrived into the State through Dublin Airport without valid documentation to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25425/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Immigration officials conduct passport checks, and run operations as required, to ensure passengers arriving in the State are properly documented in accordance with Section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004. The exercise of powers in this area is at all times subject to the law and to respect for individual rights.

Valid travel documentation is required by carriers for boarding a flight to Ireland. However, some passengers arrive at passport control without documents.

Immigration Officials 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.

The Border Management Unit and the GNIB are working closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers have such documentation when boarding. Border Management Unit officials are available 24/7 to assist airlines with queries they have in relation to immigration matters.

The number of people in 2023, to the end of April, that arrived at Dublin Airport and were refused leave to land on the basis of no documentation is 1,010, and those refused for being in possession of false documentation is 281. This represents an approximately 40% reduction in arrivals with no documents when compared to the final 4 months of 2022. The number of people refused leave to land for being in possession of a false document has fallen by approximately 17%.

If a person cannot produce a valid passport, or other equivalent document, then the Immigration Officer will arrange for the person to be referred to the Garda National Immigration Bureau for return on the next practicable flight. If a person indicates or is identified as being in need of international protection they are admitted to the international protection process in line with our international human rights and legal obligations. The vast majority of those who arrived into the State undocumented applied for international protection.

Significant investment in human resources and other modernisation initiatives is underway with a view to reducing processing times for international protection applicants, ensuring that those in need of protection receive that status without undue delay, while those that do not qualify are advised of this in good time. These measures include accelerate procedures for international protection applicants from safe countries of origin, which have had the effect of reducing processing times to under three months at first instance for such applicants. My Department will continue to take all steps to ensure that all applicants are dealt with as quickly as possible and in accordance with all relevant legal and human rights standards.