Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1103. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to address the following matters (details supplied) with respect to finger printing, cross-checking and verification processes related to international protection applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1492/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will appreciate that the establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration processes.

When a person makes an application for international protection, they are photographed and have their fingerprints taken. These fingerprints are then checked against the EURODAC database, an EU-wide immigration database which stores the fingerprints of asylum applicants and those who have crossed borders illegally. EURODAC is not a criminal records database, however, the underpinning regulations permit law enforcement agencies to compare fingerprints linked to criminal investigations with those contained on EURODAC in certain circumstances involving serious criminal offences.

Character and conduct checks are carried out through An Garda Síochána where consideration is being given to granting an applicant an international protection status or discretionary permission to remain in the State.

In relation to countries of origin which will not be a party to the EURODAC database, it would be in breach of our responsibilities in respect of refugee protection to contact the consular or police authorities in relation to persons who have sought the protection of the Irish State as doing so may have the consequence of making such authorities aware of an applicant’s presence in the State, and their claim for international protection.

If an international protection applicant does not generate a “hit” on EURODAC, because they have not had an immigration interaction with another EU State, and they do not have identifying documentation, their international protection claim must still be processed. Their claim, as with all international protection claims, will be determined on the grounds set out in the International Protection Act 2015.

In addition to checks specifically on those applying for international protection, every person arriving at a port of entry in the State is subject to a Schengen Information System (SIS) check. In that regard, Ireland sends and receives SIS II information (termed ‘Alerts’) on persons and objects; for example persons wanted by Member States for criminal purposes, missing persons and objects which have been stolen or are wanted as evidence for a judicial purpose.

In relation to the iFADO database, this is utilised by Immigration Officers in Ireland as required in the course of their work. iFADO is an internet-based image-archiving system set up to support the rapid sharing between EU Member States of images of genuine, false and forged documents .

Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1104. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons who claimed asylum or international protection at Dublin Airport for each year since 2011; the number of persons who have claimed asylum or international protection at an International Protection Office after having entered the State for each year from 2011 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1493/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The State is required to examine the application of anyone who presents at the borders of the State, or is in the State, and indicates that they wish to make an application for international protection. This is in accordance with our obligations under international and EU asylum law.

There is no obligation on an applicant to make an application for international protection at a designated port of entry. An applicant can lodge their initial application directly with the IPO after arrival in the State.

A significant cohort are understood to be arriving in the state to make an International Protection Applications via the land border with Northern Ireland.

It has long been the case that a small proportion of the travel within the CTA in both directions is used by people for irregular purposes.

There is very good co-operation at operational level between the Border Management Unit (BMU), Garda National immigration Bureau (GNIB) and colleagues in the UK Border Force and Immigration Enforcement. A particular focus is on working to secure the external border of the CTA.

In addition there are a number of ongoing operations, in co-operation with the UK, tackling abuses of the CTA by identifying illegal secondary movement patterns within the CTA and taking actions to disrupt such abuse.

The table below provides the breakdown of the number of international protection applications recorded between 2017 and to end of 2023 by “place of application”.

IP Applications - Place of Application*

* These figures are correct at time of issue, however, statistics may change due to data cleansing.

Please note that although the Deputy has asked for figures from 2011 onwards, statistics pre-2017 are not easily available in the manner sought as data would have to be extracted from a number of legacy systems. With the introduction of the International Protection Act in 2016 and the creation of the International Protection Office a new database allows for easier collation of data in more recent years therefore we have provided figures from 2017 onwards only.