The new move is an attempt to counteract terrorism internationally.
A new law ensuring that the details of passengers travelling on flights can be passed on to other EU countries and to Interpol may be passed by the Irish Government in coming months.
Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan brought spoke at cabinet during the week about an EU directive which plans to set up a database of flights between all EU countries in an attempt to increase security and counteract terrorism.
This means that the details of each passenger travelling via flight will be shared as part of security measures that Ireland has signed up to within the EU. The details shared could include dates of travel, travel itinerary, ticket information, contact details, travel agent, means of payment, seat number and baggage information.
It’s being reported that no data on a person’s race, political opinions, religious beliefs, trade union membership, health or sexual orientation may be collected.
If passed and required, both airlines and travel agents will have to hand over these details to relevant authorities.
The EU’s Passenger Name Directive (PND) was set up for the “prevention, detection, investigation and prosecution of terrorist offences and serious crime”.
PNR’s primarily concerns flights travelling in and out of the EU, however, individual member states can decide to also apply it to flights within the EU.
According to the EU, a number of data protection safeguards will also be in place. Data shared will be deleted after five years, and depersonalised after six months.
Upon signing up to PND, the Irish government must implement it by 25 May 2018.
Minister Flanagan said that for Ireland to comply with the PNR directive, it requires new legislation, which is set to brought before the Oireachtas in the coming weeks.
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