Sir, – The return of chaotic scenes to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB), as outlined on this page by Prof Benjamin Wold (June 6th), is completely unacceptable and has no place in a modern and open democracy.
Queues out the door were supposed to be a thing of the past when the bureau underwent extensive and expensive renovation work last year, coupled with the introduction of an appointments system.
While these changes may have been well intentioned, they are not working and are forcing people contributing to the Irish economic recovery to sacrifice a day’s work and disrupt their home life to queue in the open air from 6am for the benefit of paying expensive registration fees.
As a matter of urgency, the Government must act to ensure that the GNIB is given every possible support to clear backlogs, including greater use of regional Garda offices as well as online technology.
The current difficulties are just one symptom of the failure of successive governments to introduce comprehensive immigration reform.
Our immigration system lacks clear rules and guidelines, does not offer clients the protection of the Office of the Ombudsman and is slow to provide protection and supports to vulnerable groups, such as victims of trafficking and domestic violence.
It is time for political leadership to be taken not just on the delivery of services at Burgh Quay but also our entire immigration law. – Yours, etc,
KATIE MANNION,
Immigrant Council
of Ireland
Andrew Street,
Dublin 2.