Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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677. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons, and of what nationality, who have been deported in the past six years as a result of an alert on Sharing Information System, SIS, II, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25590/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy has clarified that their question refers to the number of persons refused leave to land at the border as the result of an alert on the Schengen Information System (SIS II).

Implementing effective border security arrangements is a priority for me as Minister. The Programme for Government commits to developing a border security strategy to deliver stronger border security, ensuring technology supports border screening and to reviewing the potential of extending pre-clearance mechanisms, such as electronic travel authorisation, for travel from designated third countries.

SIS II allows for an easy exchange of information between national border control authorities, customs and police authorities on persons who may have been involved in a serious crime. It also contains alerts on missing persons, in particular children, as well as information on certain property, such as banknotes, cars, vans, firearms and identity documents that may have been stolen, misappropriated or lost. As many alerts relate to people and objects linked to police and judicial criminal cooperation (e.g. European Arrest Warrants, Missing Persons) refusal of leave to land may not be the appropriate course of action; further action by An Garda Síochána may, in fact, be the appropriate and required action.

In general terms Ireland has been sending and receiving Alerts under the following six SIS II provisions;

• Art 26 - Alerts on people wanted for arrest for surrender purposes. Art 26 primarily refers to people in respect of whom a European Arrest Warrant exists.
• Art 32 - Alerts on missing people who need to be placed under protection and/or whose whereabouts need to be ascertained.
• Art 34 - Alerts on people sought to assist with a judicial procedure. This may include witnesses or suspects subject to a criminal prosecution.
• Art 36 - Alerts on people and/or objects for discreet checks.
• Art 38 - Alerts on objects for seizure or for use as evidence in criminal proceedings.
• Article 40: Alerts on Unknown Wanted Persons for Purposes of Identification Under National Law.