The Government is to introduce tough new legislation which will make it easier to deport illegal immigrants from the State. The amending legislation will give gardai extra powers to detain those who are evading the deportation process.
The measure, expected to be in place before the summer, is part of a comprehensive £70 million package of initiatives on immigration and asylum-seekers agreed by the Cabinet yesterday after an intensive three-hour discussion.
Although the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, has made more than 300 deportation orders since the Immigration Act 1999 came into operation, only 19 have been implemented. Some asylum-seekers have sought judicial reviews while others are not at their last known addresses. Mr O'Donoghue warned that certain measures were needed to improve the overall "efficiency and effectiveness" of the deportation process.
As part of its package to tackle the asylum-seeker accommodation crisis, the Cabinet agreed to provide 4,000 permanent spaces in various reception centres and 8,000 temporary spaces all over the State, including up to four "flotels" planned to house 1,000 people.
Three will be leased initially and are likely to be located in Dublin, Waterford and Cork. A fourth will be leased if required.
Mr O'Donoghue was asked by Ministers yesterday to amend the presentation of his asylum package to give more emphasis to the permanent accommodation proposals. Assurances were sought that "flotels" would not be used on a long-term basis.
It was learned last night that Mr O'Donoghue is prepared to use a section of the 1993 Local Government and Planning Act to exempt some reception centres from planning permission.
The Government also agreed yesterday to establish a statutory agency to plan and co-ordinate services for asylum-seekers and refugees.
On immigration, the Government agreed a proposal from the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, for a new work visa scheme for non-EU workers to address acute labour shortages. The first sectors to be targeted will be IT workers, nurses and building specialists, including architects, planners and engineers.