501. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the steps his Department is taking to address organised immigration crime along the eastern and southern seaboard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52741/26]

502. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the number of incidents recorded in each of the past three years involving suspected smuggling vessels intercepted off the Irish coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52742/26]

505. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the extent of cooperation between his Department, An Garda Síochána, the Naval Service and the Irish Coast Guard in monitoring coastal activity linked to illegal migration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52745/26]

Jim O'Callaghan, Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration: I propose to take Questions Nos. 501, 502 and 505 together.

As the Deputy may be aware, policing and securing Ireland's sea borders is a multi-agency responsibility co-ordinated by the Defence Forces, An Garda Siochana, and the Department of Transport. As the maritime component of the Defence Forces, the Naval Service is Ireland’s principal sea-going agency. They support various maritime functions through delivery of monitoring from ashore and patrols at sea conducting multi-faceted activities, involving maritime surveillance, drug interdiction, fisheries protection, search and rescue, and maritime defence and security operations. The Air Corps also plays a vital role in this work through their patrolling of our seas using highly specialised maritime surveillance aircraft.

An Garda Síochána are responsible immigration processing at ports of entry other than Dublin Airport. I have written to the Garda Commissioner in relation to immigration controls at seaports and will write to you when a response is received.