The Eurodac system was established by the European Union for the comparison of fingerprints of asylum applicants and illegal immigrants. Its objective in the asylum process is to facilitate the application of the Dublin II Regulation/Dublin Convention which makes it possible to determine the State responsible for examining an asylum application.
The Dublin II Regulation/Dublin Convention provides a mechanism for determining the state responsible for examining applications for asylum lodged in one of the member states of the European Union. In view of the difficulties the member states anticipated in identifying aliens who had already lodged an asylum application in another member state, ministers responsible for immigration agreed in 1991 to establish a Community-wide system for the comparison of the fingerprints of asylum applicants.
The Eurodac system enables member states to identify asylum-seekers and persons who have crossed an external frontier of the Community in an irregular manner. By comparing fingerprints, member states can determine whether an asylum-seeker or a foreign national found illegally present within a member state has previously claimed asylum in another member state.
Eurodac consists of a Central Unit within the EU Commission equipped with a computerised central database for comparing the fingerprints of asylum applicants and a system for electronic data transmission between member states and the database.
In addition to fingerprints, data sent by member states will include in particular the member state of origin, the place and date of the asylum application if applicable, sex and reference number. Data are collected for anyone over 14 years of age and are encoded directly into the database by the Central Unit or the member state of origin.
In the case of asylum-seekers, data is kept for 10 years unless the individual obtains the citizenship of one of the member states, when their particulars are immediately erased. Data relating to foreign nationals apprehended when attempting to cross an external border irregularly are kept for two years from the date on which the fingerprints were taken. Data is immediately erased before the end of the two years if:
In the case of foreign nationals found illegally present within a member state, Eurodac makes it possible to check their fingerprints against those in the central database to determine whether the individual had previously lodged an asylum application in another member state. After the fingerprints have been transmitted for comparison purposes, they are not stored by Eurodac.
As regards the protection of personal data, member state of origin must ensure that fingerprints are taken lawfully as well as all operations involving the use, transmission, conservation or erasure of the data themselves.
As part of the process of making an application for a declaration as a refugee, you and your dependent minors will be required to have your photograph taken. You will also be required to have your fingerprints taken. Fingerprints of your dependent minors may also be taken. Your fingerprints may be disclosed in confidence to the relevant Irish authorities and to asylum authorities of other countries, which may have responsibility for considering your application under the Dublin II Regulation/Dublin Convention (an electronic system - Eurodac - facilitates transfer of fingerprint information between Dublin II Regulation countries).
If you refuse to allow your fingerprints to be taken, you will be deemed not to have made reasonable effort to establish your true identity and to have failed in your duty to co-operate in the investigation of your application. This may affect the credibility of your application and lead to your application being withdrawn in which case the Minister for Justice and Equality shall refuse to give you a declaration. You should also note that in accordance with section 9(8)(c), where an immigration officer or a member of An Garda Síochána, with reasonable cause, suspects that an applicant has not made reasonable effort to establish his or her identity, he or she may detain the person concerned.