Immigrants to carry ID cards in crackdown
Friday August 25 2006
THE Government is preparing an unprecedented pre-election blitz on illegal immigrants.
The measures are modelled on tough US laws and will oblige all non-EU nationals to carry bio-metric ID cards, with details of their residence permits condensed on a special electronic strip.
Bio-metrics uses an individual's data to create a unique personal signature, or fingerprint.
In another highly controversial move, the Refugee Appeals Tribunal is to be scrapped.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Justice Minister Michael McDowell are currently fine-tuning a landmark "one-stop" immigration law to be brought to Cabinet before the Dail resumes next month.
A single law called the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill will be introduced to replace all existing asylum legislation.
The new laws are certain to trigger fury from civil liberties campaigners.
And political observers are likely to see the move as a cynical pre-election ploy as political parties acknowledge that immigration is becoming a big topic on the doorsteps.
The Irish Independent has learned that the proposed legislation will:
* Give the authorities powers to bypass existing procedures and summarily detain and deport illegal immigrants;
* Require all non-EU nationals to carry identity cards with details of residence permits on a biometric strip;
* Make it a legal duty for all foreigners who have no valid legal residence permit to leave the state;
* Forbid suspected illegal immigrants or asylum seekers from getting married in Ireland as a basis for their residence;
* Remove the automatic right to welfare payments and make them less readily available.
It is understood Mr McDowell wants to see a single process that covers both asylum and humanitarian issues.
He will propose a single appeal to a new full-time permanent body to be named the Protection Review Tribunal.
In the past, Mr McDowell has insisted that Ireland is a "tolerant society" that faces political and social challenges as changes occur because of immigration.
He has also stated that many asylum seekers come to Ireland with "spurious stories", saying he was speaking the "straight, honest truth".
Sources said that in a further tightening of the laws, would-be asylum seekers will have to prove how they travelled to Ireland and why they fled their countries of origin. Strict standards of credibility will be established and enforced.
Cooperation with the process will be mandatory for all asylum seekers and prospective immigrants.
Applicants seeking asylum will also be required to reside in designated reception centres until their status is decided.
In a nod to the threat of global terrorism, new powers will also be available to revoke residence permits where, as a matter of probability, the holder of such a permit is suspected of being a threat to public order or security or of using their presence for unlawful purposes.
It is also expected that welfare payments now available to asylum seekers will not be automatic or so readily available.
In US immigration law the onus of proof is on the applicant. Speculation is also rife that Fine Gael and Labour are preparing their own package of legal reforms on immigration.
Earlier this year, Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte sparked anger in his own party ranks after calling for restrictions on workers from new EU member states coming to Ireland.
In an interview he said: "The time may be coming when we will have to sit down and examine whether we would have to look at whether a work permit regime ought to be implemented in terms of some of the non-national labour.
"There are 40 million or so Poles, so it is an issue that we have to look at."
- Sam Smyth
