West
27-08-2006, 01:07 AM
A bit of good news for a change presuming it isn't an election stunt, an attempt to gradually introduce ID cards to all of us under the order or that they turn the whole thing into another one of their trademark fiasco's..
The Government plans to enact new powers to clamp down on illegal immigration before the next general election, requiring non-EU citizens to carry biometric identity cards and allowing gardaí to summarily detain and deport illegal immigrants.
A Department of Justice spokesman confirmed yesterday that the heads of the proposed immigration, residence and protection Bill was a "priority piece of legislation" and would be brought to Cabinet shortly. The Bill will then be drafted.
The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, intends that the Oireachtas will pass it before the general election, expected in early summer next year.
Fine Gael's justice spokesman Jim O'Keeffe welcomed the proposals yesterday but suggested they had been made public at this time to deflect attention from this week's damaging reports on the prison system. Labour's Brendan Howlin said his party was open to having a debate on the issue of an ID card, but not one for one section of the population that could become "a race or ethnic card".
:rolleyes
According to the forthcoming Bill, the proposed new identity and residency card would contain biometric information such as fingerprints and may be required to gain access to public services. It would make it easier for gardaí to identify quickly people who were in Ireland illegally and to move to deport them.
There is already a card issued by the Garda containing biometric information to non-EU nationals. The Bill will give legal backing to the use of biometric data and will make it compulsory for these cards to be carried at all times
The proposed legislation is also expected to make welfare payments less readily available to asylum seekers. It will also propose the reform of the appeals system for those denied refugee status. It would abolish the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, which has been the subject of sustained criticism over the lack of transparency of its decision-making process..
http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/topstories/8766297?view=Printer
The Government plans to enact new powers to clamp down on illegal immigration before the next general election, requiring non-EU citizens to carry biometric identity cards and allowing gardaí to summarily detain and deport illegal immigrants.
A Department of Justice spokesman confirmed yesterday that the heads of the proposed immigration, residence and protection Bill was a "priority piece of legislation" and would be brought to Cabinet shortly. The Bill will then be drafted.
The Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, intends that the Oireachtas will pass it before the general election, expected in early summer next year.
Fine Gael's justice spokesman Jim O'Keeffe welcomed the proposals yesterday but suggested they had been made public at this time to deflect attention from this week's damaging reports on the prison system. Labour's Brendan Howlin said his party was open to having a debate on the issue of an ID card, but not one for one section of the population that could become "a race or ethnic card".
:rolleyes
According to the forthcoming Bill, the proposed new identity and residency card would contain biometric information such as fingerprints and may be required to gain access to public services. It would make it easier for gardaí to identify quickly people who were in Ireland illegally and to move to deport them.
There is already a card issued by the Garda containing biometric information to non-EU nationals. The Bill will give legal backing to the use of biometric data and will make it compulsory for these cards to be carried at all times
The proposed legislation is also expected to make welfare payments less readily available to asylum seekers. It will also propose the reform of the appeals system for those denied refugee status. It would abolish the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, which has been the subject of sustained criticism over the lack of transparency of its decision-making process..
http://home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/topstories/8766297?view=Printer