Airlines are to face increased financial penalties for carrying passengers who do not have valid travel documents as the Department of Justice says over 2,000 on the spot checks of passengers landing in Ireland have been carried out this year so far.
Figures from the DOJ say that 2,250 ‘door stop’ checks – where travel documents are requested as passengers step off the plane before reaching immigration – were carried out on flights which were deemed to pose a risk of being used for the purpose of illegal immigration.
Gript reporters recently witnessed such checks being carried out on flights from Stockholm and Brussels.
Approximately 100 people have been prosecuted this year so far for failing to produce travel documents after being doorstepped.
The ICCL has criticised the practice of requiring valid travel documents from migrants claiming that those fleeing war can not be reasonably expected to have these.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee will bring legislation before the Cabinet this week to increase from €3,000 to €5000 per person fines for airlines carrying such passengers.
As Gript previously reported over 13,000 people have arrived at Dublin airport since 2018.
Figures released to TD Mattie McGrath show that at least 13,521 people arrived in the state via Dublin Airport alone.
Deputy McGrath had asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of individuals who have arrived in Ireland at any port of entry, including Dublin Airport, without valid travel documents, despite presenting them at their point of departure, for each year from 2018 to date in 2024.
The total that arrived at Dublin Airport in that period without the necessary documents was 13,521 according to Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee.
She said that the Border Management Unit (BMU) of the Department of Justice is responsible for frontline Immigration at Dublin Airport only, and that, as such, the figures reflected the position at Dublin Airport only.
“Other airports and other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). Data on this subject is not available in respect of such other ports of entry,” the Minister said.
Gript’s Matt Treacy previously reported findings from an FOI which showed that three quarters of those who arrived in Ireland without valid travel documentation were allowed to stay.