The Labour Party has proposed to regularise the position of 15,000 asylum-seekers applying for refugee status in the State.
In a three-point plan aimed at tackling the asylum crisis, the party is proposing a green card system for immigrants, speedier processing of refugee applications and an integration policy for immigrants.
To wipe out the current backlog, the party is calling for green cards to be issued to asylum-seekers currently waiting to have their refugee applications processed. While the party stressed this was not an amnesty, it said it would "regularise" the position of up to 15,000 asylum-seekers.
Announcing the plan yesterday, the Labour Party leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, said the green card proposals recognised the difference between economic migrants and asylum-seekers. The problem now was that most economic migrants who wanted to work here had no option but to apply for refugee status.
He described the political leadership shown by the Government on the asylum issue as abysmal.
"The Minister for Justice rejoiced in phrases like `illegal immigrants' and `bogus asylum-seekers'. He reacted to any generous response by others, from the Labour Party to the Catholic bishops, as a push for an open-door policy to immigration," he said.
Mr Quinn accused the Progressive Democrats of crying many public tears on the issue, including describing Government strategy as "a shambles".
The green cards would be given to a specified maximum number of non-EEA immigrants each year, starting from January 2001. The number of green cards would be determined by labour market analysis and research.
Criteria used to assess green card applicants would include language, skills and willingness to undergo training. An immigration agency would be established to manage and promote the green card scheme in nominated countries abroad.
With the clearing of the asylum-seeker backlog through the issuing of green cards, the party says, the processing of refugee applications would be much faster. It promised that all applications, including appeals, would be dealt with in six months.
On integration, Labour says immigrants should be encouraged to participate in the economic, political and social life of society as equal members. "At the same time they should have the opportunity of maintaining and developing their own culture and religion where appropriate in harmony with the host population."
Labour's spokesman on justice, Mr Brendan Howlin. said the proposals offered a fair, humane and workable plan to deal with one of the most significant political and social challenges facing this State.
The plan was welcomed last night by interest groups. The Irish Council for Civil Liberties said it was a timely and constructive intervention which should not be dismissed out of hand by the Minister for Justice.
The Irish Refugee Council said the proposals would regularise the status of thousands of asylum-seekers and merited serious consideration. The plan was also welcomed by the Irish Commission for Justice and Peace.