The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, has signed an order introducing fines for transport companies in an effort to crack down on illegal immigration.
The fines will be imposed on carriers who transport passengers with inadequate immigration documents from outside the Common Travel Area with the UK, into the State.
The order becomes effective from tomorrow.
In a statement the Department said: "Inadequate checks pose a potentially serious threat to the security of the State. The purpose of the carriers' liability provisions of the Immigration Act 2003 is to encourage carriers to carry out document checks which ensure that persons who do not have the documents necessary for travel to Ireland are not allowed onto aircraft, ships or other vehicles bound for Ireland."
Under the Act, carriers found guilty will be liable on summary conviction to a fine of €3,000 per offence. Each person carried will represent a separate offence.
As an alternative to a prosecution, the carrier may make a payment of €1,500 in respect of each offence within 28 days of the issuing of a statutory notice. Failure to pay in compliance with the terms of the notice will result in a prosecution.