Immigration bill defended as ‘model of fairness’

JUSTICE Minister Brian Lenihan has defended proposed immigration laws against claims they are draconian and could breach human rights conventions.

Mr Lenihan told a Dáil debate on the Immigration, Residence and Protection Bill that the consequences of the new powers and procedures for immigrants, both legal and illegal, had been misrepresented.

In particular, he said the new law puts the onus on immigrants who did not have legal status to leave the State and only face forcible removal if they failed to comply.