Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
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128. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to outline his knowledge of the case of a person (details supplied); and whether he is aware of claims that this individual is in fact much older and has sought asylum in other countries under variations of the same name. [52360/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is unable to publish any information that would identify any person as being an international protection applicant. This is a separate matter to the law dealing with data protection matters more generally.

In general terms, applicants for international protection are requested to provide personal documentation to the International Protection Office (IPO) at the time of application to attest to their identity, nationality and date and place of birth.

All applicants who enter the international protection process are fingerprinted and photographed. These fingerprints are checked against EURODAC, an EU database which stores the fingerprints of asylum applicants and those who have been found to cross borders illegally.

In addition to checks specifically on those applying for international protection, each and every person arriving at a port of entry in the state is 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.

When an applicant presents as an unaccompanied minor, the International Protection office, in accordance with the International Protection Act 2015, refers the individual to Tusla who assess their needs and eligibility for services. Tusla may then decide that an application for International protection should be made on behalf of the minor.