Ryanair is working with the Department of Justice to stop undocumented passengers from coming into Ireland, CEO Michael O’Leary has said.
He was speaking as the number of fines for carriers that bring undocumented passengers into Ireland is set to increase.
Airlines could now be fined up to €5,000 if they are found to carry a passenger without valid travel documents – an increase of €2,000 on the current level.
However, a person prosecuted for such an offence can still apply for International Protection.
Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary told The Pat Kenny Show the carrier is working with Irish authorities.
We send everybody non-EU – you have to get their visas checked – we’re now taking photographs of their passports at the visa check desk,” he said.
“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’.
“The problem is they flush [their documents], they show up here, and it’s a complete scam.”
Mr O’Leary said Ireland must distinguish between refugees and those 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 France,” he said.
“Nobody got to Ireland from Afghanistan, Kenya, Nigeria or Syria on a direct flight because there aren’t.
“We should look after refugees; I greatly sympathise with the Ukrainians.
“But people arriving here from the UK, France or other EU countries, we should be turning them back to the EU countries where you came from”.
Mr O’Leary added that tracking people who arrive here ” is tough “because they tear up or flush their documentation down the toilets”.
