Robinson hits out at Ireland's refugee policy

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, has

said that Ireland will have to re-examine its approach to taking asylum seekers into the country.

Speaking at a national women's conference in Dublin, the former President said she was heartened by the criticism of the Government's approach to the issue.

Mrs Robinson says that Ireland will have to develop a "thoughtful and people-centred" approach to dealing with the issue of refugees.

Referring to a new law which fines airlines and ferry companies if they are found to be carrying refugees, she says that we must be careful in introducing such laws, as they drive genuine asylum seekers into the hands of people traffickers.