Row over fingerprinting

The Garda Commissioner has warned civilian staff who are refusing to operate a biometric fingerprinting system that they will face disciplinary action by the end of this month.

The dispute means two-thirds of foreign nationals, who are not an EEA (European Economic Area) national and need to register in Ireland, have not been fingerprinted since arriving.

Five machines at the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) at Burgh Quay in Dublin have not been used since installation in Aug 2008, due to a row over the roles of immigration officers and civilian staff. A similar row involves GNIB civilian staff based at Anglesea St in Cork.