Dermot Desmond’s Daon to supply kiosks at Dublin Airport

Daon, a biometric technology company founded by Dermot Desmond, has won a contract to supply automated passport control kiosks for use in the US immigration pre-clearance zone at Dublin Airport.

The company, which supplies iris and fingerprint-scanning technology to governments and airports around the world, landed a "multi-year contract" in conjunction with its partner, GCR, Daon's chief executive Tom Grissen said.

The kiosks are used by US border control to cut down on queue times for passengers. Travellers use the self-service kiosks to submit their customs declarations and personal information.

Daon said that the installation of the service at US pre-clearance in Dublin Airport, which follows an earlier trial of the service, will boost the capacity of the airport to put on transatlantic flights.

“Daon looks forward to a continued engagement with the airport as its business grows,” said Mr Grissen.

Daon operates from offices in Dublin's International Financial Services Centre and also in Virginia, on the outskirts of Washington DC. The Irish operation's directors include Mr Desmond and also Michael Walsh, his long-time associate and a former chairman of Irish Nationwide Building Society.

Mr Desmond has previously described the company as one of his best investments, although its finances are not open to the public due to its unlimited status and ultimate control via a Cayman Islands entity.

The company has won a slew of identity-checking contracts with banks, airports and government worker schemes around the world.