Ó Snodaigh welcomes long-awaited publication of Immigration Bill
Published: 29 January, 2008
Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus ÓSnodaigh TD has welcomed the long-awaited publication of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2008. However, Deputy Ó Snodaigh said that unless the Bill reverses the substantial amount of damage contained in the 2007 Bill then this will be a wasted opportunity to comprehensively reform outdated and inadequate legislation.
Speaking today he said, "This is a very lengthy piece of legislation
that will require careful scrutiny and debate, particularly in view of
the shortcomings of its previous incarnation. I welcome its
long-awaited publication and will be looking very closely to see if the
serious concerns raised with regard to the 2007 Bill have been addressed
and if the many very constructive submissions made on the Bill have been
utilised.
"Unless this Bill reverses the substantial amount of damage contained in
the 2007 Bill then this will be a wasted opportunity to comprehensively
reform outdated and inadequate legislation.
"In the Programme for Government, the Government's stated aim was to set
out 'in a clear and integrated approach the whole process for foreign
nationals coming to the State'. The Bill proposed in 2007 was
inherently lacking in the principles of transparency and accountability,
did not address issues of major import, and failed to acknowledge
existing international human rights obligations.
"The lack of accountability and transparency would create enormous
difficulties for those administering and enforcing the legislation. Too
much was left to individual discretion and unaccountable policy
statements, rather than legislation.
"Unfortunately, the tone of the publicity surrounding the Bill does not
offer much hope that this effort will be any more constructive or
progressive than the last. It is being referred to as 'new legislation
aimed at tightening Ireland's laws on immigration and asylum'.
"The concerns raised regarding the retention of overly broad ministerial
discretion, the failure to address the issue of family reunification,
the lack of regard for due process and transparency or protection for
victims of trafficking, among many other issues, will have to be
adequately addressed before this can be considered comprehensive reform
or even 'good law'."
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