Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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273. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the evidence that exists of passports or other international travel documents being thrown in bins or flushed down toilets in State airports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27090/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am advised that instances arise whereby passengers present documentation to carriers at the point of embarkation which is sometimes false or inadequate and then seek to destroy or conceal that documentation before they arrive at border control. This is evidenced by operational experience and, on occasion, the discovery of concealed or destroyed documentation on board airplanes or at points between disembarkation from airlines and border control.

The Border Management Unit (BMU) of my Department and the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) have an ongoing intelligence-led programme of operations at airplanes to detect passengers who may attempt to destroy or conceal documents inflight and to identify the point of embarkation of undocumented passengers.

BMU and GNIB carry out doorstop operations at airplanes; these are based on trends observed by immigration officials, who will conduct initial document checks as passengers disembark an aircraft in order to establish a person’s identity and nationality. Over 3,000 doorstep operations have been completed to end May 2024.

It is an offence under Section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004, for a non national to arrive in the state not in possession of a valid passport or equivalent document. An Garda Síochána has prosecuted over 100 people in 2024 for arriving without appropriate documentation.

The BMU and the GNIB are working closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers have the appropriate travel documentation when boarding. Immigration officials are available 24/7 to assist airlines with queries in relation to immigration matters.

In addition to providing advice to airlines on specific queries, training is provided to airline ground staff on current travel documentation requirements to help them reduce the number of passengers boarding flights without correct documentation.

My Department has recorded a 34% reduction in 2023 in the number of persons arriving in the State without the correct documentation. Q1 in 2024 has seen a further reduction in the numbers arriving without documentation.

Earlier this month, I updated the Government of my intention to reform the carrier liability provisions of the Immigration Act 2003. Last week I received Government approval to introduced these reforms as part of wide-ranging Miscellaneous Provisions Bill, which is planned for enactment by the Summer recess. I am proposing to increase the fines on carriers from the current maximum of €3,000 to €5,000 if they do not comply with their obligations to ensure passengers have appropriate travel documentation.

This is one element of an overall goal to reduce the number of people presenting at ports of entry without appropriate travel documentation.