Madam, - The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform proposes to introduce fines of €1,500 for anyone caught carrying an undocumented migrant into the State.
Madam, - The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform proposes to introduce fines of €1,500 for anyone caught carrying an undocumented migrant into the State.
This provision is included in the Immigration Bill 2002 which is due to be rushed through the Seanad this Wednesday.
There is a lot one could say on this latest piece of "respect" for human rights from our Government, but please let me make a couple of points. Our media have carried sympathetic coverage over the last few days of the first anniversary of the suffocation of eight Turkish people in a container that arrived in Rosslare. Make no mistake about it: introducing these fines will force more desperate people into the hands of people traffickers, with the inevitable danger of equally horrific results.
A range of Irish organisations, including all the main churches, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, the Irish Refugee Council, the Irish Road Hauliers Association, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties and Amnesty International have expressed their opposition to the Government's move. The proposed legislation contravenes international refugee law, which specifically forbids states from imposing penalties on asylum-seekers forced to flee by illegal means.
The timing of this Immigration Bill is underhand, with the Minister clearly hoping to rush it through without proper discussion. But its "no room at the inn" implications will hardly be lost on the people in this country - and we really should let our politicians know it. - Yours, etc,
SEÁN LOVE,
Director, Irish Section,
Amnesty International,
Dublin 2.