Press release
Minister McEntee announces new contract for Automated Border Control eGates at Dublin Airport
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has today announced a new contract for Automated Border Control “eGates” services for passport control in Dublin Airport.
This new contract will see the upgrading of the existing eGates at Dublin Airport. Automated Border Control eGates provide highly secure automated passport validation and security checks on passengers for passport holders from the EU/EEA, Switzerland and the UK who are over 18 years of age a “self-service” type channel to clear immigration control.
Last year, over 4 million passengers who arrived at Dublin Airport were processed by the eGates operated by the department’s Border Management Unit.
Minister McEntee said:
“My department is working to modernise its immigration processes and provide more efficient services for customers.
“Utilising technology like Automated Border Control eGates is paramount to delivering a secure, effective, and modern Immigration Service.
“Securing this contract means we can continue to process, Irish, EU and other eligible travellers, as swiftly as possible, while conducting stringent security checks on passengers and their documents.”
Automated Border Control eGates were first opened in Dublin Airport in December 2017. They provide highly secure automated passport validation and security checks on passengers.
There are currently 10 eGates in each of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 arrivals with an additional five eGates in the passenger Transfers Facility.
The Border Management Unit (BMU) is responsible for securing Ireland’s border at Dublin Airport in accordance with the provisions of the Immigration Act 2004 as they relate to entry and refusal of entry to the State. All passengers are required to pass through immigration controls. Immigration and border controls at Dublin Airport are fully maintained by the BMU which is under the directorship of the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) of the Department of Justice.
In December 2017, a total of 20 Automated Border Control “eGates” were opened across Terminal 1 and 2 at Dublin Airport. In 2019, a further 5 eGates were added in Dublin Airport’s Transfer Area. The eGates allow passport holders from the EU/EEA, Switzerland and the UK who are over 18 years of age a “self-service” type channel to clear immigration control. The eGates at the Transfer Area also facilitate US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and Japanese citizens if not transferring to the UK.
At present, eGates process approximately 25% of passengers who arrive into Dublin Airport on a daily basis. They are a key component of the BMU operational model and are critical to the smooth running of Immigration controls allowing BMU to dedicate resources to non-eligible passengers.