A recipe for deportation
Immigration bill to be rushed through
Despite protests from various organisations, including Amnesty
International, the Anti-Racism Campaign, and Sinn Féin, the Dublin
government still plans to proceed to push through the Immigration Bill
before Leinster House breaks for the summer this Friday.
John O'Donogue, Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, asserts that
``the new law will provide government with a solid legislative framework for
the development and implementation of fair and sensible immigration
policies to meet the changing needs of Irish society while at the same time
respecting the rights of those lives affected.'' The minister added that
the bill highlights what non-nationals ``can expect from the law and what
the law expects from them''. The bill will establish in statutory form
conditions whereby non-nationals can be deported at the behest of the
minister.
Amnesty International, however, has expressed alarm at the unseemly speed
of the bill's progress. Dr Colin Harvey, Amnesty's refugee coordinator,
said: ``We are extremely concerned that the amendments do not reflect an
unequivocal commitment to mainstream human rights and fairness in the
refugee protection process. These amendments must be proofed against
international standards which the state has committed itself to.''
Amnesty is concerned that refugee protection requires specific legal
expertise. They are concerned that legal representatives dealing with such
cases may not have sufficient expertise and of the lack of reference to
legal aid, interpretation facilities, and provisions for children and
unaccompanied minors in the bill..
Amnesty is concerned about the nature and composition of the Refugee
Advisory Board and the Refugee Appeals Tribunal. It says that the board and
tribunal must be composed of individuals with knowledge and experience of
human rights and refugee law and be guided by best international practice
The human rights organisation also says that the Refugee Commissioner must
take a lead in mainstreaming human rights and fairness in the process.
Sinn Féin's Caoimhghín O'Caoláin, who will be opposing the legislation,
described it as a deportation bill. ``The government seems more anxious that
its proposed deportations of asylum-seekers should proceed than that a
proper system of assessment, a fair hearing and fair living and working
conditions for those seeking asylum should be put in place speedily. It
does not deal with immigration and asylum issues but lays down conditions
and mechanisms for expulsion of people from the state.
``We need a more open system which welcomes people to our shores, bringing
with them skills to add to our workforce and culture to add to our
diversity.'
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