Ireland's Human Rights Commission Concerned About Immigration Bill

The Human Rights Commission (HRC) in Ireland raised concerns this week about the Government's Immigration Bill, which was published by the Minister for Justice last month

According to the HRC, the new legislation would make it easier for the authorities to detain and deport illegal immigrants.

The Commission also said that it was concerned that provisions to detain asylum seekers in prisons and garda stationswere unacceptable.

Dr. Manning, the President of the HRC said that "of particular concern to the IHRC is the provision for detention of asylum-seekers.

"In our 2006 Observations on the Scheme of the Bill, the IHRC expressed the view that prison is not a suitable place for the detention of asylum-seekers who have not committed a criminal offence.

"The 2008 Bill retains the proposal for the detention in particular circumstances of asylum seekers in prisons or Garda Stations.

"This is despite clear international human rights standards that indicate that such an approach is not acceptable".

The IHRC is also said to be concerned at the provision for the removal from Ireland of people who are challenging a decision on their asylum applications through the courts.

The Bill proposes that where judicial review proceedings are initiated challenging the removal of a person seeking asylum from Ireland or transfer to a "safe third country", the initiation of those proceedings will not suspend the removal of that person.