17A.—(1) The Minister or an immigration officer, where he or she considers it necessary for the purpose of ensuring the integrity of the immigration system or the operation of an arrangement relating to the Common Travel Area, may take or cause to be taken the fingerprints of a person for the purpose of the person’s application for an Irish visa or an Irish transit visa.

(2) The Commissioner of the Garda Síochána shall arrange for the maintenance of a record of fingerprints taken pursuant to subsection (1).

(3) In this section—

F41["arrangement relating to the Common Travel Area" means an arrangement between the Government and the government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland relating to the lawful movement of persons between the territories of the Common Travel Area;]

"Irish visa" and "Irish transit visa" have the meanings assigned to them by the Immigration Act 2003.]