Kenny calls for immigrants to be screened

FINE GAEL leader Enda Kenny yesterday proposed that immigrants coming from outside the EU into Ireland should be “rigorously screened” for criminal records.

The controversial proposal was included in a wide-ranging paper on immigration, which Mr Kenny delivered in Lucan yesterday.

The paper sets out to manage immigration into Ireland by controlling the numbers coming in from EU, focusing on immigrants rights but also on their responsibilities, as well as ensuring it improves, not threatens, living standards.

“We need an immigration system that is good for the Irish and immigrants. Right now, we have an unmanaged system that is not good for either,” claimed Mr Kenny.

“That’s why I’ve proposed to appoint a Minister for Immigration Affairs to get the system under control. He will implement changes to deal with the challenges of the influx of immigrants into Irish schools, rigorously screen those coming from outside the EU for criminal records, and enforce severe penalties for employers who pay immigrants below legal rates.”

He said that immigration had posed challenges in schools, including St Tomas junior national school in Lucan. He said that a quarter of the 460 pupils were international, coming from 32 countries. He said the school had no support.

“We need to ensure that immigrant children can progress in our schools, while at the same time making sure education of Irish children is not held back.”

To that end, he promised 500 additional English-language teachers, to provide English classes for foreign national parents, and improve teacher training.