Immigration screening at risk as EU data unavailable to Ireland
There are fears immigration officials won't be able to perform robust identity checks and security screening on asylum seekers due to the country's lack of access to key EU security databases, a Government report has warned.
The report on the introduction of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum is expected to come into force in June of next year.
It says Ireland 'may not be able to carry out the most robust identity validation' due to the country's exclusion from the Schengen Area and the related IT border security systems. The report on the introduction of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum is expected to come into force in June of next year. Pic: Getty Images
Under the 1985 Schengen Agreement, border controls between EU Member States on the European mainland were abolished.
The Agreement allows people to travel from the likes of Sweden to Portugal without having to present their passports at national borders.
However, the UK and Ireland opted out of the Schengen Agreement as a common travel area has existed between the two States since partition in 1923, with amendments on air travel in place since 1997.
Under proposals in the EU Migration Pact, asylum seekers would be subjected to strict biometric security checks, such as providing fingerprints and facial screening.
It is understood that the Government will have to recruit in the region of 400 staff to manage the new regime on asylum applications at a cost of € 32 million. Recently, it was revealed that 80% of migrants entering the Republic are doing so over the border. Pic: Getty Images
Michael Murphy, a former director of military intelligence official with the Defence Forces, told RTÉ: 'One thing the plan does not address is our agreements with the United Kingdom on the movement of people across the border with Northern Ireland, and so that's a great weakness that is not addressed.'
Recently, it was revealed that 80% of migrants entering the Republic are doing so over the border.
The plan, which has been prepared for the Government in advance of the EU Migration Pact coming into effect, warns of a 'concern' that Ireland 'may not be able to adequately conduct screening' because it will not have access to the EU's Entry/ Exit system, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, and the EU Visa Information System.
The EU's Entry/Exit system is a new IT system to help Member States to manage the EU's external borders.
It is due to be operational in October and will record the date and place of each entry and exit, facial images and fingerprints of travellers to the EU, and whether an individual has been refused entry to a country. According to the European Commission, the database is designed to prevent irregular immigration and identify travellers who have no right to enter, or have exceeded their permitted stay. Pic: Shutterstock
According to the European Commission, the database is designed to prevent irregular immigration and identify travellers who have no right to enter, or have exceeded their permitted stay.
The system can also identify travellers who are using fake identities or passports, and the information will be used to detect and investigate terrorist offences and other serious crimes.
Minister for European Affairs Thomas Byrne also told RTÉ: 'We are part of the EU Migration Pact because Minister O'Callaghan wants a firm but fair asylum policy.
'We want to make sure that people coming to this country have a right to come to this country or are genuinely fleeing war or disaster, and that the system is not abused.
'We've been roundly criticised by the Opposition parties for joining the EU Migration Pact, and now they're criticising us because there are issues with it.
'We are looking at measures to ensure that every person coming into this country is screened, and we are looking at what is the best way to access information so that we can have our own screening system'
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