Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 July 2026
315. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether a preliminary estimate exists of the capital expenditure, annual operating expenditure, staffing requirements, and the procurement timetable for the implementation of a national entry and exit registration system for non-Irish and non-British citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52598/26]
View answer332. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether an assessment has been carried out of the number of biometric capture stations that would be required to process all non-Irish and non-British arrivals entering the State annually; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52600/26]
View answer333. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has carried out a feasibility study, business case, cost-benefit analysis or preliminary costing exercise in respect of an electronic entry and exit registration system; if so, to provide details of the estimated capital and operating costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52601/26]
View answer334. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has examined the implementation costs and staffing requirements associated with the European Union entry/exit system (details supplied) and the applicability of those costs to the State. [52602/26]
View answer335. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the estimated annual volume of passport, biometric and travel movement records that would be generated under an entry and exit registration system applying to all non-Irish and non-British travellers entering and leaving the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52603/26]
View answer336. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the estimated storage and infrastructure costs associated with retaining entry and exit records for periods of three years, five years and ten years respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52604/26]
View answer338. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether his Department has estimated the number of additional immigration officers, enforcement personnel, information technology staff and data protection personnel that would be required for the operation of an electronic entry and exit registration system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52606/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 315, 332, 333, 334, 335, 336 and 338 together.
I can advise the Deputy that the Entry/Exit System (EES) is a Schengen measure which introduced 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, feasibility studies 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 has been deployed gradually at the external borders of the countries in the Schengen Area. 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.
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.
