The arrest of a Japanese woman who travelled here especially for Bloomsday would do irreparable damage to the image of Ireland in Japan, Mr David Norris told the Seanad yesterday.
Mr Norris asked the leader of the House to convey to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the strong concern of members about the arrest of a Japanese woman on Tuesday. "Perhaps we should have an investigation into the facts surrounding this case. I was apprised of the arrest by the secretary of a former minister at 1 p.m. yesterday. This lady has a substantial income and her family has a business in Tokyo.
"She travelled to Dublin for Bloomsday and did not need a visa to do so. Unfortunately, she was arrested on foot of information that she had been refused a visa in London and was put on a plane back to Amsterdam. That is an extraordinary and high-handed way to behave."
Mr Norris said TDs had attempted to contact the immigration officials by telephone but they had refused to talk. "As a gesture of good will the Government should pay the fare for that woman to come back here and I will entertain her at the James Joyce centre. The ill-treatment of this lady will do irreparable damage to the image of Ireland in Japan.
"We are happy to make money out of our great writers when it suits us. We talk about Ireland being an island of the welcomes. Let us ensure that our immigration officials do not let us down."