Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 7 September 2026
2135. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the data required to be included within the biometric element of a passport for the purposes of entering the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59671/26]
View answer2136. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration what constitutes biometric testing for the purposes of verifying a passport or any other identity document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59673/26]
View answer2150. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding any means that biometric testing can be carried out in a location other than an Irish embassy or consulate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59928/26]
View answer2151. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if biometric testing is conducted by a commercial entity and contractor (details supplied); if this company can therefore conduct biometric testing on behalf of all signatories of the EU migration pact; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59939/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2135, 2136, 2150 and 2151 together.
When a non-EEA national presents at a border, an Immigration Officer must determine whether that person should be granted leave to land and gain entry to the State. In performing their duties, an Officer is required to consider all of the circumstances of the individual at the time of entry.
Immigration officials conduct passport checks, and run operations as required, to ensure passengers arriving in the State are properly documented in accordance with Section 11 of the Immigration Act 2004.
A non-EEA national must be in possession of a valid passport or other equivalent document, issued by or on behalf of an authority recognised by the Government, which establishes his or her identity and nationality. There are no biometric requirements.
For Irish visa purposes, biometric enrolment may be carried out outside an Irish Embassy or Consulate through designated Visa Application Centres, currently operated by VFS Global in certain countries, where fingerprints and facial images are captured on behalf of the Irish authorities. More information is available at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/biometrics/.
