Ireland’s government aims to clamp down on irregular immigration by raising fines for airlines transporting undocumented passengers by 66%.
This year, the Garda Síochána (Irish Police) has prosecuted more than 100 individuals and jailed many for arriving in the country without a valid travel document, reports schengen.news.
Any airline found not to be complying with requirements will be subject to a fine of €5 000 (R97 940) per passenger, up from €3 000 (R58 760).
“The legislation, which provides the obligations for carriers and the level of fines, has been unchanged since 2003. After 21 years in operation, I initiated a review to assess whether it remains appropriate and effective in 2024,” said Helen McEntee, Minister for Justice of Ireland.
The government hopes to enact the new legislation before the Dáil Éireann (Irish Parliament) recess in mid-July.