Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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If a person arriving at a port of entry to the State 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.

The Border Management Unit (BMU) of my Department has responsibility for front-line immigration duties at Dublin Airport only. Other airports and other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).

Immigration Officers 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.

In addition to this, and in accordance with Section 7 of the Immigration Act 2004, a non-national and their belongings may be searched by an Immigration Officer to ascertain if they are carrying any documents.

If a person expresses that they wish to seek International Protection at an airport or port, an Immigration Officer will carry out a preliminary interview under Section 13(2) of the International Protection Act 2015. The preliminary interview seeks to establish, among other things:

• whether the person wishes to make an application for international protection and, if he or she does so wish, the general grounds on which the application is based,
• the identity of the person,
• the nationality of the person,
• the country of origin of the person,
• the route travelled by the person to the State, the means of transport used and details of any person who assisted the person in travelling to the State,
• the reason why the person came to the State,
• the legal basis for the entry into or presence in the State of the person, and
• whether any of the circumstances referred to in section 21 (2) of the International Protection Act may apply.

A person seeking protection will then have their photograph and fingerprints taken.

The person is then directed to the International Protection Office (IPO) to complete their application. Standard operating practice is for the person to be directed to attend the IPO by 11:00 am on the next business day. Where necessary, overnight accommodation is organised with IPAS.