Pro-immigrant and human rights groups have strongly criticised the publication of the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill 2007, hours before the announcement of the date for the general election.
In a statement to Metro Eireann, Mark Kelly, director of Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL), said the publication of the Bill was “a political stunt” designed to generate more media attention.
“This draft Bill stands no chance of becoming law before the general election, and may never resurface afterwards. The ICCL can only conclude that its publication has a political, rather than a legislative purpose.”
He continued: “The Irish Council for Civil Liberties campaigns for full respect of Ireland’s international human rights obligations in the area of immigration, and does not consider that it would be fruitful to engage in an immigration-related debate which has a purely political purpose.”
Publishing the Bill, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said it would keep abreast with the challenges and opportunities of the high level of inward migration to the State.The Bill, which will apply mainly to immigrants from non-EU countries, is expected to radically overhaul the current system and will see those illegally resident in the State removed, and if possible detained, so as to effect removal.
It will also make it mandatory for non-EU nationals to carry biometric identity cards – the size of a credit card – at all times. Under the Bill, every non-EU immigrant wishing to marry in Ireland will have to notify the Minister for Justice.
The Bill states: “A marriage purportedly contracted in the State between two persons, one or each of whom is a foreign national, is invalid in law unless the foreign national or, as the case may be, each of them: (a) has, not later than three months before the date of solemnisation of the marriage, given notification in the prescribed form to the Minister of the intention to marry, and (b) is at the time of the marriage, the holder of an entry permit issued for the purpose of the intended marriage or a residence permit (other than a protection temporary residence permit or a non-renewable residence permit).”
Reacting to the publication of the Bill, the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) described it as a blueprint for social disintegration. “The tone and content of the Bill seems to be one of suspicion, and will have the effect of generating fear and segregation,” said Jacqueline Healy, acting director of the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MCRI).
“While on the one hand the Government has acknowledged that an integration strategy is a vital component of a successful immigration policy, the Bill appears to consider migrants as potential criminals, which is more likely to fuel xenophobia and racism.”
“This draft Bill stands no chance of becoming law before the general election, and may never resurface afterwards. The ICCL can only conclude that its publication has a political, rather than a legislative purpose.”
He continued: “The Irish Council for Civil Liberties campaigns for full respect of Ireland’s international human rights obligations in the area of immigration, and does not consider that it would be fruitful to engage in an immigration-related debate which has a purely political purpose.”
Publishing the Bill, Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said it would keep abreast with the challenges and opportunities of the high level of inward migration to the State.The Bill, which will apply mainly to immigrants from non-EU countries, is expected to radically overhaul the current system and will see those illegally resident in the State removed, and if possible detained, so as to effect removal.
It will also make it mandatory for non-EU nationals to carry biometric identity cards – the size of a credit card – at all times. Under the Bill, every non-EU immigrant wishing to marry in Ireland will have to notify the Minister for Justice.
The Bill states: “A marriage purportedly contracted in the State between two persons, one or each of whom is a foreign national, is invalid in law unless the foreign national or, as the case may be, each of them: (a) has, not later than three months before the date of solemnisation of the marriage, given notification in the prescribed form to the Minister of the intention to marry, and (b) is at the time of the marriage, the holder of an entry permit issued for the purpose of the intended marriage or a residence permit (other than a protection temporary residence permit or a non-renewable residence permit).”
Reacting to the publication of the Bill, the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI) described it as a blueprint for social disintegration. “The tone and content of the Bill seems to be one of suspicion, and will have the effect of generating fear and segregation,” said Jacqueline Healy, acting director of the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MCRI).
“While on the one hand the Government has acknowledged that an integration strategy is a vital component of a successful immigration policy, the Bill appears to consider migrants as potential criminals, which is more likely to fuel xenophobia and racism.”
