Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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678. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to outline, by year and nationality, the number of persons who have been subject to an entry ban in line with the EU Returns Directive in the past six years, and how many bans have been issued by the Government, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25591/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I can advise the Deputy that Ireland did not opt-in to the 2008 EU Returns Directive.

In March 2025 the EU Commission published a new legislative proposal for a Return Regulation. At present, deportation orders are issued under Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and under the International Protection Act 2015.

Ireland has shown its commitment to a common EU-wide solution to migration through opting in to the Asylum and Migration Pact. Harmonisation in the area of returns is equally welcome. Subject to consideration of the detailed provisions, it is my preference that Ireland would participate in the proposed Returns Regulation. The text of the proposed Returns Regulation is currently being examined in detail by my officials.

Insofar as the Irish legislative provisions are concerned, a deportation order is a legal order to leave the State, and is issued after the person is offered, but does not avail of voluntary return. Any person who has been ordered to leave the State within the timeframe issued with the deportation order, and fails to do so is committing a criminal offence, and can be arrested without warrant if they come into contact with An Garda Síochána. Such an order remains on the person’s record permanently, unless revoked by the Minister for Justice – it means they may not enter Ireland again in future.

I can assure the Deputy that I am fully committed to ensuring that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that our people have confidence in the application of our legislation in this area.

It is the preferred option to return people voluntarily and my Department has a voluntary return programme to assist people to return prior to the issuance of a deportation order. As part of this process my Department makes arrangements for the person to leave the State or the person can organise their return independently. In both circumstances, my Department receives confirmation when the person has departed.

My Department has taken action to significantly improve immigration enforcement measures and increase removals. The number of deportation orders signed in 2024 (2,403) increased by 180% compared to 2023 (857). This year 1,755 deportation orders have been signed up to 16 May 2025. Last year, 1,116 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return etc.), an increase of 252% compared to 2023 (317). This year 751 persons have had their departure confirmed through these pathways up to 16 May 2025.

In 2025, two charter flight operations have removed 71 people who were subject to deportation orders from the State with a further 45 removed on commercial airlines. Further charter operations and removals on commercial aircraft will be conducted as the year progresses. A further 20 people have verified to my Department that they have left the State following a deportation order being issued to them.

In addition to the enforced deportations and those that are otherwise confirmed to have left, a much larger number of people will have left the State without informing the authorities. However, as there are no routine exit checks at Irish borders, it is not possible to accurately quantify this number.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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679. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of times the Government has been consulted by other national authorities before granting or extending a residence permit or long-stay visa for a non-EU national refused the right of entry into or stay in another Member State, or before or after entering an alert for refusal of entry and stay on a non-EU national who is the holder of a valid residence permit or long-stay visa granted by another Member State, broken down by number and nationality, in the past six years. [25592/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I understand the Deputy has clarified that his question relates to 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.

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.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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680. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the information systems that are used to determine the nationality, point of entry and background information of an individual who makes an international protection application after entering the State from the land border. [25593/25]

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 over the age of 14 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 is provided by applicants in support of their application, including documents concerning their identity. An assessment of the person's identity and the credibility of their application forms a key part of consideration of their international protection application.

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