OPPOSITION PARTIES and immigrant groups welcomed the Human Rights Commission's report and said its recommendations would have to be carefully considered.
Labour's justice spokesman, Pat Rabbitte, said the commission had made a "very insightful" contribution and noted its comments on the scope of ministerial discretion.
"I welcome the fact that for the first time immigration into the country will now be governed by a single statute, but it's very disappointing that instead of giving expression in law to the rights and obligations of people covered by the Act, it confers on the Minister uniquely the power to make law as he thinks fit at any given time, with essentially no supervision from parliament," he said.
"This Bill as it stands, without doubt, gives the Minister extraordinarily far-reaching powers to make regulations at any given time as he thinks proper."
Mr Rabbitte also welcomed the commission's recommendation that decisions of the proposed protection review tribunal, which would replace the Refugee Appeals Tribunal, should be published.
Fine Gael's spokesman on immigration and integration, Denis Naughten, said the commission had identified one of the "fundamental flaws" in the Bill, which was that "its implementation is dependent upon regulations being signed by the Minister that won't have any scrutiny from the Oireachtas."
"All this legislation is doing is streamlining the legislation of the whole immigration process. That's positive, but with this piece of legislation, once it's enacted, someone does not know under what circumstances they will or will not be allowed into the country," he said.
"The Irish public will still be none the wiser as to who is going to be given access to the country, and under what conditions. All of that is going to be left open to regulation.
"I think the Human Rights Commission is correct in their interpretation of it. I don't believe it's acceptable."
The Immigrant Council of Ireland said the commission's observations echoed many of the concerns raised by NGOs working in the area. These included the extent of ministerial discretion, restrictions on migrants' access to justice, summary deportations and restrictions on marriage.
"Given the serious nature of the difficulties with the legislation that have been highlighted by a wide range of groups, it is imperative that the Government rethinks its approach and considers significant amendments to the Bill on committee stage," said Denise Charlton, its chief executive.
