Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As an EU Member State, Ireland is invited to participate at the Frontex Management Board in a non-voting capacity and can, should it wish to do so, seek to participate in certain training and joint operations co-ordinated by Frontex on behalf of EU Member States. Frontex Management Board meetings are held five times a year and Ireland is represented at these meetings by a member of the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

Frontex facilitates training and joint operations across EU Member States, and Ireland participates in training in areas such as the use of IT systems, escort leaders in return operations, escort officers in return operations and detection of false documents. These courses seek to establish a standardisation of processes, and Ireland’s participation ensures that it is in a position to maintain or exceed these standards in both national and joint operations. It is in the interests of all policing organisations to maintain an awareness of new developments and international best practice and to be outward looking in seeking to avail themselves of such opportunities.

Ireland also assists Frontex in the delivery of such training, and occasionally sends trained personnel from the Garda National Immigration Bureau to delivery training to other Member States.