862. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of immigration checks carried out by An Garda Síochána in each of the Border counties of Louth, Monaghan, Cavan, Leitrim and Donegal in each of the past 12-months, by county and type of operation; and the number of persons detected during those checks who did not have lawful permission to enter or remain in the State. [64777/26]

936. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if any written policy, protocol or operational guidance governs the actions of the Garda National Immigration Bureau when a person intercepted during an immigration check on a cross-Border road or public transport service is subsequently returned to Northern Ireland; whether such guidance provides for a formal handover to a UK authority; if so, which authority; and whether the guidance will be made publicly available. [65452/26]

937. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in relation to persons intercepted by An Garda Síochána or the Garda National Immigration Bureau during immigration checks on cross-Border roads and public transport services, the number subsequently detained; the locations in which they were detained; the number returned or escorted to Northern Ireland or Great Britain; in each case, the mode of return; and whether the return involved a formal handover to a UK authority, in each of the years from 2023 to date in 2026. [65453/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 862, 936 and 937 together.

Ireland and the United Kingdom (UK) share a long history and common interest in the effective operation of the Common Travel Area (CTA) and work together to prevent any abuses of the CTA.

The Programme for Government commits to ‘Continue to work with the UK Government to introduce further measures to tackle abuses within the Common Travel Area (CTA) and strengthen the external border of the Common Travel Area, including greater exchange of information’.

My Department chairs a Common Travel Area Forum (CTAF) with the UK Home Office which acts as a steering committee for the ongoing work of protecting the CTA in relation to free movement of its citizens between both countries while at the same time ensuring that the CTA is not abused by those not entitled to avail of it. The Forum comprises officials of both my Department and the UK Home Office, together with relevant operational colleagues. It is jointly chaired by the respective Heads of Immigration functions on both sides.

More broadly, there is extensive engagement and cooperation at all levels between my Department officials and their Home Office counterparts, as well as significant operational cooperation between the Gardaí, UK Border Force, UK policing services and the Police Service of Northern Ireland. This strong practical engagement and cooperation serves the mutual interests of both Ireland and the UK and will continue.

An Garda Síochána conducts ‘Operation Sonnet’ which targets abuses of the CTA. It targets people attempting to abuse the CTA by illegally crossing the Irish border from Northern Ireland. During Operation Sonnet, GNIB Officers operate checkpoints and vehicle stops in order to conduct immigration checks on passengers travelling by means of both public and private transport from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland. ‘Operation Gull’ is the UK equivalent.

During these operations, people entering Ireland illegally were refused leave to land and returned to the UK by ferry from Dublin Port to Holyhead. Where it was confirmed that they were resident in Northern Ireland, they were returned to Belfast.

A human rights-based approach is adopted in relation to every individual stopped. Immigration officers will clearly identify themselves. All Garda members have completed training in the Garda Code of Ethics and the Garda Decision Making Model. All checks carried out are lawful, objective and respectful.

I am advised by the Garda Commissioner that the following information is available in relation to days of operational activity and detections arising from these operations:

Table 1. Operation Sonnet days of action and detections.

In relation to the Deputy's questions regarding any written policy, protocol or operational guidance governing the actions of the Garda National Immigration Bureau when a person intercepted during an immigration check is subsequently returned to Northern Ireland, including any arrangements for formal handover to UK authorities, I have sought information from the Garda Commissioner. If the requested information is available, I will provide it to the Deputy by way of supplementary reply.