Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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23. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she is aware that the CEO of the Irish Refugee Council (details supplied) has said that a recent increase in prosecutions of people for arriving into Ireland without a passport may be an attempt to reduce protection applications by criminalising an attempt to flee persecution; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38181/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that individuals must be in possession of a valid passport or identity documents when they arrive in Ireland and it is an offence to not have the appropriate documents.

While there are exceptions for some passengers travelling within the Common Travel Area, in general, the requirement to have appropriate documents applies to Irish, EU and Non-EU arrivals.

We have a rules-based immigration system, and the establishment of a person’s identity and nationality upon arrival is an important and longstanding feature of our immigration process and international border controls.

Prosecutions for this offence is a matter for An Garda Síochána and the DPP, both are independent in this regard. It’s important to note, the Immigration Act provides a defence for a person to prove that they have reasonable cause for not being in possession of appropriate documentation. The determination of this is a manner for the Courts.

I can further advise the Deputy, that 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 will have their application examined in detail in accordance with our obligations under international and EU law.

My Department and the GNIB are working closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers have appropriate documentation when boarding. This includes delivering in-person training to relevant airline ground-handling staff on immigration requirements and false travel documentation.

To the end of August 2024, the Border Management Unit have carried out over 5,300 doorstep operations at Dublin Airport. My Department has recorded a 34% reduction in 2023 in the number of persons arriving in the State without the correct documentation. 2024 has seen a further reduction in the numbers arriving without documentation.

I have increased penalties for carriers who are found to not have conducted appropriate checks on documentation from €3,000 to €5,000.

I also strengthened visa requirements to travel to Ireland, provided funding for an increase in the Garda Airport Liaison Officers network across European transport hubs and assigned additional resources to the Border Management Unit to facilitate disembarkment checks.