Limited access to EU security database may hamper ‘robust' screening of asylum-seekers, government report says
The new immigration control system across the 27 EU member states has been adopted by Ireland and is set to come into effect in June 2026.
It will aim to tackle key inefficiencies within the current system, while also protecting external borders and supporting member states 'under migratory pressure through greater burden-sharing'.
A report prepared for the Government has highlighted how Ireland does not have access to certain EU security databases available to Schengen member states, and is limited in its access to the full European search portal.
There is concern, the report states, that, as a result, Ireland may not be able to adequately conduct screening or carry out 'robust identity validation' in line with the requirements of the EU Pact.
The Department of Justice told the Irish Independent that it was a central priority for Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan that Ireland's immigration system be robust and effective.
While Ireland would not have access to the entry/exit system, ETIAS and the Visa Information System, the Government had opted into the EuroDac system, which is a fingerprint database for asylum-seekers that will be upgraded by June of next year.
It will store official documents and photographs of asylum- seekers as well as their first place of application to help decrease secondary movement.
The department said that while Ireland could not opt in to the Schengen IT systems, the State intended to legislate nationally to align with its provisions.
It said the State would carry out screening on anybody who entered Ireland irregularly – this will consist of identity checks, health checks, security and criminal screening and gathering fingerprint data for the EuroDac database.
Last year, there were 18,560 applications for international protection, a 40pc increase on 2023, with more than 50pc of applicants coming from Jordan, Nigeria, Somalia, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The report also says that Ireland has 'responded generously to the humanitarian situation in Ukraine' and granted more than 113,332 applications for temporary protection between 2022 and January of this year.
Figures show that the Department of Justice and state-funded migration operations delivered 934 voluntary returns last year.
The Government has also committed to providing 14,000 state-owned beds which it says will help support the delivery of the pact requirements. The acquisition of facilities for state-owned properties 'will deliver significant savings to the Exchequer' in the long run, according to the report.
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Irish Independent
2 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Donald Trump says Ukraine will decide on land swaps as he flies to Alaska for ‘high stakes' summit with Vladimir Putin
Trump said his goal was to get the two sides to start a negotiation, with any territorial swaps to be addressed then. "They'll be discussed, but I've got to let Ukraine make that decision, and I think they'll make a proper decision. But I'm not here to negotiate for Ukraine, I'm here to get them at a table," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. Trump's remarks are likely to offer some assurance to Ukraine, which is worried that the US-Russia talks could freeze the conflict at Ukraine's expense. Trump said the Russian offensive in Ukraine was likely aimed at helping to strengthen Putin's hand in any negotiations to end the war. "I think they're trying to negotiate. He's trying to set a stage. In his mind that helps him make a better deal. It actually hurts him, but in his mind that helps him make a better deal if they can continue the killing," he said. The US president said he expected his meeting with Putin to produce results, given the stakes involved and weakness in the Russian economy. "He's a smart guy, been doing it for a long time but so have I.. we get along, there's a good respect level on both sides, and I think, you know, something's going to come of it," he said. Trump said it was a good sign that Putin was bringing business executives with him from Russia, but said no deals could be made until the war was settled. "I like that 'cause they want to do business, but they're not doing business until we get the war settled," he said. The meeting of the Russian and US leaders at a Cold War-era air force base in Alaska, their first face-to-face talks since Trump returned to the White House, comes amid Ukrainian and European fears that Trump might sell Kyiv out. Trump, who once said he would end Russia's war in Ukraine within 24 hours, said on Thursday the three-and-a-half-year conflict had proven a tougher nut to crack than he had thought. He said if his talks with Putin went well, setting up a subsequent three-way summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky - who was not invited to Friday's meeting - would be even more important than his encounter with Putin. Trump is pressing for a truce to bolster his credentials as a global peacemaker worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize, something he has made clear is important to him. Ukraine and its European allies were heartened by their conference call on Wednesday in which, they said, Trump agreed Ukraine must be involved in any talks about ceding land. Zelensky said Trump had also supported the idea of security guarantees in a post-war settlement, although the US president has made no public mention of them. Wednesday's call eased their fears of a Trump-Putin deal that would leave Ukraine under pressure to make territorial and other concessions. Putin, whose war economy is showing signs of strain, needs Trump to help Russia break out of its straitjacket of ever-tightening Western sanctions, or at the very least not to hit Moscow with more sanctions, something Trump has threatened. The day before the summit, the Kremlin leader held out the prospect of something else he knows Trump wants - a new nuclear arms control agreement to replace the last surviving one, which is due to expire in February next year. Deal Trump said on the eve of the summit that he thought Putin would do a deal on Ukraine, but he has blown hot and cold on the chances of a breakthrough. Putin, meanwhile, praised what he called "sincere efforts" by the US to end the war. A source close to the Kremlin told Reuters it looked as if the two sides had been able to find some unspecified common ground beforehand. "Apparently, some terms will be agreed upon tomorrow (Friday) because Trump cannot be refused, and we are not in a position to refuse (due to sanctions pressure)," said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the matter's sensitivity. Putin has set stringent conditions for a full ceasefire, but one compromise could be a phased truce in the air war, although both sides have accused the other of flouting a previous accord. Analysts say Putin could try to look like he's giving Trump what he wants while remaining free to escalate in Ukraine if he wants to. "If they (the Russians) are able to put a deal on the table that creates some kind of a ceasefire but that leaves Russia in control of those escalatory dynamics, does not create any kind of genuine deterrence on the ground or in the skies over Ukraine... that would be a wonderful outcome from Putin's perspective," said Sam Greene, director of Democratic Resilience at the Center for European Policy Analysis. Land transfers Zelensky has accused Putin of bluffing and playing for time to avoid US secondary sanctions and has ruled out handing Moscow any territory. Trump has said land transfers between Russia and Ukraine could be a possible way of breaking the logjam. Putin, whose forces control nearly one fifth of Ukraine, wants Trump to start reviving the two countries' shrunken economic, political and business ties and, ideally, not to make that process contingent on progress on Ukraine. But it is unclear whether Putin is willing to compromise on Ukraine. In power for a quarter of a century, the Kremlin chief has staked his legacy on coming out of the war with something he can sell to his people as a victory. Chief among his war aims is complete Russian control over the Donbas industrial region in eastern Ukraine, which comprises the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Despite steady advances, around 25% of Donetsk remains beyond Russian control. Putin also wants full control of Ukraine's Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions; NATO membership to be taken off the table for Kyiv; and limits on the size of Ukraine's armed forces. Ukraine has said these terms are unacceptable and tantamount to asking it to capitulate.
Irish Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Trump and Putin to meet for showdown summit on Ukraine
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin could make history today as the world nervously awaits their in-person talks in Alaska. The US President and Russia's dictator are due to start discussions at around 11am local time (8pm BST) joined only by their translators. The pair previously met during Trump's first term, in 2018, but have since spoken on the phone in Trump's attempt to end the illegal invasion of Ukraine - which the US leader previously vowed to end within '24 hours' of becoming President. Trump raised eyebrows this week after he left Volodymyr Zelensky out of the crucial talks into the future peace of Ukraine. Although he spoke to European leaders on the phone ahead of this meeting, fears have circled about the President's approach to leave Ukraine out of the talks and meet a dictator who has been iced out of the international community. 13:05 KEY EVENT Trump was seen pulling a stern face as he waved before boarding Air Force One for his seven hour flight. Trump boarding Air Force One (Image: Getty Images) 12:40 KEY EVENT The US President has started his 7+ hour journey to Anchorage as he left the White House at 7.31am local time (12.31 UK time). 12:36 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj Sergei Lavrov spoke to Russian media while in Alaska ahead of todays summit. Lavrov arrived ahead of Putin and Trump and was oddly seen wearing a jumper with USSR written on it. Putin's puppet said: "We never make any assumptions in advance. We know we have an argument, we have a clear and well-defined position, and we will present it. "A lot has already been done here during Witkoff's visits. And Witkoff spoke on behalf of President Trump. I hope that we will continue this very useful conversation. Sergei Lavrov wearing a USSR jumper and talking to a reporter in Alaska (Image: Telegram) 12:19 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj Both leaders will bring a small but important team along with them to Alaska. Trump is set to bring: Secretary of state Marco Rubio Secretary of commerce Howard Lutnick CIA director John Ratcliffe Putin will bring five men to Alaska: Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Finance Minister Anton Siluanov Defence Minister Andrei Belousov Russian Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriev 12:09 KEY EVENT Donald Trump has taken to Truth Social to share a short message before the President travels to Alaska to meet Putin for the first time in seven years. The President wrote: "HIGH STAKES!!!" He is shortly expected to board a plane for his seven hour flight to Anchorage, Alaska. 11:59 KEY EVENT Defence Secretary John Healey has said the UK is ready to "put boots on the ground" in Ukraine. Healey revealed the government could put troops in Ukraine to help reinforce a ceasefire, if one is agreed on, ahead of todays summit. The defence secretary also warned that the government would be ready to "step up economic sanctions and pressure" on Putin if he "really isn't serious" in todays Alaska showdown. This comes after Trump yesterday said there was a 25% chance his meeting with the despot would "not be successful". 11:43 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj Donald Trump warned Vladimir Putin he will face severe consequences if he walks away from their Alaska summit without an end to Ukraine's illegal invasion. Trump, after being asked what would be the outcome if Putin refuses to stop the killing, said: "Very severe consequences." When pushed on what these consequences would be, he said: "I don't have to say." He added: "If I do not get the necessary answers during the meeting with Putin, there will be no next meeting." This comes after Kyiv said the Russian dictator was bluffing about his willingness to end the horror war. Trump and Putin shaking hands in 2018 (Image: AFP via Getty Images) 11:26 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj A major explosion struck a Russian weapons and ammunition plant - killing and injuring dozens of workers - ahead of a crucial summit between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump. Dramatic images caught the moment a huge explosion went off in the gunpowder workshop at the Elastik plant in Ryazan. Initial reports said five people were killed, 20 injured and more than 100 people were evacuated from the burning plant. Local Russian news outlets reported the whole warehouse was completely destroyed after the huge explosion. It is unclear whether the plant was hit in a deliberate attack, a Ukrainian drone strike or an accident at the site. Read the full story here. A huge major at a Russian weapons and ammunition plant (Image: social media; east2west news) 10:54 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj Vladimir Putin was seen making a stopover in the gulag city of Magadan before jetting off to Alaska. The dictator is in the far eastern part of Russia for a "full-fledged regional trip" before his meeting with Trump. A Kremlin spokesperson said: "The city is important. Putin has been there many times, even when he was prime minister." The flight from Magadan to Anchorage, Alaska, takes around four hours. Putin's car surrounded by a fleet of security vehicles in Magadan (Image: social media; east2west news) 10:35 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj Locals have rallied in Alaska as they protest Trump and Putin's meeting in their state. People waved blue and yellow flags as they held placards with messages of support for Ukraine. Ukraine supporters gather in a demonstration ahead of Putin and Trumps meeting (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images) 10:22 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj The US leader has suggested he could meet Putin a second time, before his in-person talk with the despot. Trump described a potential second meeting with the evil dictator as "more important" as he suggested Zelensky could be present for those talks. Ukraine's leader was surprisingly left out of today's meeting as Trump talks to Russia's dictator hours after European leaders met with Zelensky. Trump suggested some of Europe's leaders could be invited to this supposed second meeting. Yesterday, Trump said: "We're going to have a meeting with President Putin, President Zelenskyy, myself and maybe we'll bring some of the European leaders." 10:04 KEY EVENT Putin's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov was pictured stepping down in Alaska ahead of the dictators meeting with Trump. A Russian news outlet shared footage of the Putin puppet walking into his hotel in Anchorage. Lavrov was bizarrely seen wearing a jumper that said CCCP - the Cyrillic writing for USSR. Sergei Lavrov walking into his hotel in Anchorage (Image: REN TV) 09:42 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj The leaders are set to meet at the remote Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. Trump has previously visited this miliatry base - the biggest in Alaska - several times during his first term, but this will be his first time back since his November win. A White House official said having the meeting on the Alaskan base woulkd make it easier for the US President to keep the trip just one day long, according to The New York Times. The decision to hold this meeting in Alaska is significant as the US purchased the oil rich state from the Russian Empire 158 years ago. Alaska is also just less than three miles away from Russia, at its closest point to Putin's land. 09:29 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj Protestors have stepped out ahead of Putin's visit to Anchorage, for a crucial meeting with Trump. Protestors waving Ukrainian flags in protest ahead of Putin's visit (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images) Locals were seen waving Ukrainian flags and holding signs saying "Alaska stand with Ukraine". 09:24 Sophie Huskisson Vladimir Putin has been given a warning by the UK ahead of a crucial face-to-face summit today with Donald Trump. Speaking just hours before the talks, the UK Defence Secretary John Healey said Britain is prepared "to step up diplomatic and economic pressure" if Putin fails to act. The Cabinet minister told Times Radio: "The pressure now is on Putin to prove he wants peace. Today is a test of that. And we have worked hard in the run-up to this meeting in Alaska - intensifying diplomacy, stepping up military aid and being ready to step up economic pressure on Putin if he's not willing to act as he says he will." Mr Healey added: "Our first priority is to continue to stand with Ukraine, to step up diplomatic pressure and economic pressure on Putin but also to keep a focus on the front line, while all eyes are on Alaska, because we can't jeopardise the peace by forgetting about the war." The Cabinet minister said today's face-to-face talks between Mr Trump and Putin was a "first step towards serious negotiation" in bringing the conflict to an end, adding that "talking" was the only way to solve a war, not "fighting". He shot down a question asking whether Britain's role was to "watch and wait", as he said the Government was leading the charge in military planning for a possible ceasefire and supplying military aid to the war-torn country. Read the full story here. 09:20 Elizabeta Ranxburgaj Donald Trump yesterday hit back at questions around whether the US President had a "strong hand" going into these talks. The President said: "Well, he came to our country." Trump then made a bizzare claim about what could have happened if he wasn't the leader of the US, despite failing on his pre-election promise of ending the illegal invasion within 24 hours of his second term. Trump said: "I think if I weren't president, he would take over all of Ukraine, it's a war that should have never happened. "If I weren't president, in my opinion, he would much rather take over all of Ukraine but I am president and he's not going to mess around with me." 09:07 KEY EVENT A fleet of armoured limos were seen escorting Vladimir Putin to the Pacific Coast ahead of his flight to Alaska for today's peace talks. Images showed the row of black cars being flanked by flashing police cars through Russian streets. Vladimir Putin in a fleet of armoured vehicles on his journey to the US (Image: social media; east2west news)
Irish Examiner
5 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Irish exports to the US down almost 25% as tariff pressures stifle trade
Irish exports to the US dropped significantly in June as the fallout from US President Donald Trump's punitive tariff campaign stifled trade between the two countries. New figures released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) on Friday show exports to the US fell by almost a quarter compared to June 2024, dropping by €1.3bn to a total of €4.4bn. Despite the notable decline, the US remained Ireland's largest trading partner, with exports to the US accounting for just under 25% of total exports in June. The products which accounted for the largest share of US exports were chemicals and related products at €3.2bn, miscellaneous manufactured articles at €622m and machinery and transport equipment at €412m. These products represented 72.3%, 14.3% and 9.5% of total exports to the US in June. On a monthly basis, exports of goods to the US fell by almost 60%, reflecting the fallout from tariffs as well as stockpiling efforts by companies seeking to get ahead of punitive levies. Overall, the value of goods exports increased by 4.8% to €17.5bn in June 2025 compared to the same month last year, the CSO said. For the three months between April and June, exports were valued at €63.1bn, reflecting a rise of 16.5% compared with the same quarter last year. Stockpiling However, it also reflected an almost 30% fall compared to the previous quarter, which was especially high due to stockpiling efforts ahead of President Trump's 'Liberation Day' tariff announcement in April. Similarly, goods exports declined by more than 26% to €17.2bn in June compared to the previous month, leading to a decrease of 56% in Ireland's seasonally adjusted trade surplus. Exports of medical and pharmaceutical products increased by 9% to €7.3bn in June compared with the same month last year, representing over 41% of total exports. Meanwhile, exports of organic chemicals decreased by almost 30% to €1.8bn compared to June 2024. The EU has not said when a joint statement on tariffs with the US would be ready, nor when the White House would issue an executive order on European car import duties. The EU and US reached a framework trade agreement at the end of July but only the 15% baseline tariff on European exports had so far come into effect, as of last week. EU officials previously said a joint statement would follow the deal "very soon" along with executive orders from US president Donald Trump on key carve-outs.
