Madam, – The recent discussion of the Irish visa and immigration system is good to see and long overdue (Brian O’Cathain, March 1st Gerry Mullins, February 26th, Letters and Genevieve Carbery, Home News, February 15th) Serious questions need to be asked about the logic behind all our immigration rules.
Why, for example, are we one of the only countries in the world not to have exit controls in our airports? What is the point of having strict time limits on visas when we don’t check if people leave on time? What is the point of the intense scrutiny in Dublin airport (and the very long queues in passport control) when anyone can enter unchecked via Northern Ireland? Indeed, the Government’s own statistics show 90 per cent of illegal immigrants enter that way.
What is the point of rejecting and deporting honest tourists who arrive in Dublin with a UK visa, when anyone who wishes to enter the country dishonestly can easily do so from either the North or by ferry? Ireland pays to deport each one, because we have uniquely exempted airlines from “Carrier Liability” rules, which are standard everywhere else. It seems our entire immigration system is designed to annoy and discourage honest tourists, while throwing out the red carpet for illegals.
It would make far more sense to allow anyone with a multi-entry UK or Schengen visa to visit Ireland. It would boost tourism and business, and allow Ireland to hold lucrative international conferences. We could make this rule change tomorrow, as the power to do so is in the hands of the Minister for Justice alone. Every day we continue our illogical and counterproductive rules we are losing money and turning away business. – Yours, etc,