Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 October 2025
292. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the specific oversight role he personally exercises in relation to Ireland’s engagement with the EU Entry/Exit System (EES); if he has appointed a senior official or taskforce within his Department to coordinate national readiness; and when he last received a departmental progress briefing on the matter. [56324/25]
View answer293. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if the Government has formally considered or approved a decision to opt in to the EU Entry/Exit System; the date of any such Cabinet memorandum or discussion; and when a final decision will be brought before Government for ratification. [56325/25]
View answer294. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline how his Department intends to inform the public and civil society organisations about the operation and privacy implications of the EU Entry/Exit System; to specify whether public information campaigns will be conducted; and to confirm the languages and accessibility formats to be used. [56348/25]
View answer295. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the timeframe for the phased introduction of the European Union entry/exit system across member States; if Ireland will participate in the scheme from the EU’s stated full operational date of 10 April 2026; and the derogations, exemptions, or transition arrangements applicable to the State. [56350/25]
View answer296. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to set out Ireland’s legal status under Protocol 21 of the Treaties in relation to the entry/exit system; to confirm whether the Government has formally exercised an opt-in or opt-out to the underlying regulation; and to provide the date and outcome of any related correspondence with the European Commission or Council. [56351/25]
View answer299. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his Department expects the European Union’s new entry/exit system (ESS), which has now become operational in the Schengen area, to have implications for irregular migration to Ireland; if his Department will be monitoring the impact of the ESS on irregular migration to Ireland; if there are plans to introduce changes regarding entry and exit to the State as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56399/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 292, 293, 294, 295, 296 and 299 together.
I can advise the Deputy that the Entry/Exit System (EES) is a Schengen measure which will introduce digital border controls at external borders of the Schengen Area. As Ireland is not a member of the Schengen Area, it is not implementing the EES. In this context, additional staffing, information campaigns or legislative changes would not be required in Ireland as its introduction relates to changes to border controls in other jurisdictions.
The EES, was launched on 12 October 2025 and will be deployed gradually at the external borders of the countries in the Schengen Area over a 6-month period. The EES will not apply to Irish nationals or to travel within the Common Travel Area. Non-EU nationals traveling from Ireland to the Schengen Area will be registered on the EES of the relevant country, unless they are exempt.
As Schengen Member States implement border controls on behalf of each other they require shared operational systems, such the EES. As a non-Schengen member Ireland does not require the operational capacity to grant access to the Schengen zone and therefore is not party to this measure.
Ireland has an option, provided for in Article 3.1 of Protocol 21 annexed to the Treaty of Lisbon, to opt-in to individual proposals in the area of freedom, security and justice. However, the introduction of the EES constitutes a development of the provisions of the Schengen acquis in which Ireland does not take part, in accordance with Council Decision 2002/192/EC. Therefore, the Government has not been required to exercise it’s ability to opt-in under Protocol 21.
While my Department is not responsible for the introduction, operation or oversight of the EES, guidance for Irish residents who may be travelling to the Schengen Area is available on my Department’s website here: www.irishimmigration.ie/at-the-border/eu-entry-exit-system-ees/ .
For the full list of who is exempt from the EES please see www.travel-europe.europa.eu/en/ees/to-whom-does-ees-not-apply .
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.
Ireland will continue to operate its own visa and border systems following the introduction of the EES. There are already 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.
Changing migration trends are kept under continual review by my Department. Any variation in migration trends following the introduction of the EES will see my Department adapting its response accordingly.
