Ryanair Partners with Department of Justice to Curb Undocumented Entries

6 months ago Editor

Ryanair is collaborating with the Department of Justice to prevent undocumented passengers from entering Ireland, as fines for carriers bringing in passengers without valid documents increase to €5,000.

Ryanair is actively collaborating with the Department of Justice to address the issue of undocumented passengers entering Ireland, according to CEO Michael O’Leary. This partnership comes as the fines for airlines found transporting passengers without valid travel documents are set to rise to €5,000, up from the current €3,000.

O’Leary detailed the measures Ryanair is implementing, including photographing the passports of non-EU passengers at visa check desks. “We want to send that information to the Department of Justice so if somebody shows up without documentation, we as the airline will be able to say, ‘Here’s the passport and here’s where we think they were sitting,'” he explained. This step aims to counteract the practice of passengers discarding their documents before arrival.

The CEO emphasized the need for Ireland to distinguish between genuine refugees and individuals arriving from other EU countries. “One of the things that drives me nuts in Ireland is we treat people like refugees who are coming from the UK or from France,” O’Leary stated, highlighting that refugees from countries like Afghanistan, Kenya, Nigeria, or Syria do not arrive directly due to the lack of direct flights.

O’Leary expressed support for genuine refugees, particularly Ukrainians, but insisted that those arriving from other EU countries should be sent back to where they came from. He added that the destruction of documents by some passengers makes tracking them difficult, further complicating immigration control efforts.

Ryanair check-in — Photo Source: The Sun

O’Leary pointed out that while Ireland has a duty to support genuine refugees fleeing conflict and persecution, the current system is being exploited by individuals traveling from safe countries within the EU. “We should look after refugees; I have great sympathy for the Ukrainians. But people who are arriving here from the UK, France, or other EU countries should be turned back to the EU countries where they came from,” he argued. This approach, he believes, would ensure that resources are directed towards those who truly need asylum.

Additionally, O’Leary noted the practical challenges faced by authorities in tracking undocumented individuals once they arrive in Ireland. “It’s very difficult to track people because they tear up or flush their documentation down the toilets,” he said. By capturing and sharing passenger documentation details with the Department of Justice, Ryanair aims to support more effective immigration control and prevent the manipulation of the asylum system.