The Republic of Ireland has launched the first phase of its new Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) for its national police force, the An Garda Síochána, and the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS).

During this phase, LiveScan electronic fingerprint capture equipment will be installed at the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner. This will allow fingerprint data from those seeking asylum to be captured and exchanged with EURODAC, the central EU fingerprint database.

In subsequent phases, which will be rolled out during 2008, individual’s fingerprints will be captured and stored when they register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). This will also allow immigration authorities to capture and store fingerprints at points of entry including sea and air ports. The new system will be fully integrated with the Garda PULSE system and the GNIB information system in 2008.

The system uses biometric technology from Motorola, and is the latest biometrics announcement involving the company. It has also delivered biometric visa technology including biometric border checks for Austria, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and the UK as part of the EU’s BIODEV II project.