John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

293. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will implement criminal checks for citizens from visa-free countries travelling to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26390/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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. This work is underway.

When a non-EEA national presents at a border, an Immigration Officer must determine whether that person should be granted leave to land and gain entry to the State. In performing their duties, an Officer is required to consider all of the circumstances of the individual at the time of entry. The establishment of a person’s identity and nationality is an important feature of our immigration process. Section 4(3) of the Immigration Act 2004 sets out the full range of grounds on which a person may be refused.

There are systems in place to ensure that relevant information in relation to individuals can be checked at a port of entry. Everyone arriving at a port of entry will have their travel documents inspected by either an Immigration Officer or, for certain confined categories, an electronic system (E-gates). They will also be subject to a Schengen Information System (SIS) check. Under this system Ireland sends and receives SIS II information (termed ‘Alerts’) on persons and objects; for example persons wanted for criminal purposes, missing persons and objects which have been stolen or are wanted as evidence for a judicial purpose.