Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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1591. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to provide data for the period 2020 to date on the number of international protection applicants who have made an application for protection at International Protection Offices without being in possession of valid or complete documentation; the number of those who made an application while being in receipt of false or invalid documentation during the same period 2020 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19921/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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It is a central priority for me as Minister for Justice that our immigrations laws are robust and enforced.

The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration processes. This is especially so in the context of persons who make a claim for international protection.

Applicants are photographed and have their fingerprints taken when making an application for international protection. 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.

When applications are lodged at the International Protection Office (IPO), information provided by applicants in support of their application, including documents concerning their identity, are recorded as part of the applicants file. While the IPO holds information on documents presented on foot of, or in support of, each individual application for international protection, this information is utilised in the examination of the individual application only, therefore it is not possible to provide the data requested in a consolidated manner at this time.

Before any status (refugee status, subsidiary protection or permission to remain) can be granted to any person, character and conduct checks are carried out.

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.

Ireland has opted in to the EU Asylum and Migration Pact which is due to enter operation in June 2026. The pact will significantly reform the current approach to migration and asylum both in Ireland and across the EU by providing a robust legislative framework to address the challenges faced in this area.

Under the pact, a mandatory ‘border’ procedure will be introduced with a 12-week time limit for first instance and appeal decisions to be completed. This border procedure applies to applicants from countries of origin with a recognition rate of 20% or less across the EU or who have no documents or false documents or are deemed a security risk.