Refugee Council attacks immigration policy

The Irish Refugee Council has attacked the Government's policy on immigration.

Speaking to mark World Refugee Day, spokesman James Stapleton said the words uttered by Irish and European politicians directly conflict with their actions.

"Ireland and other European countries want to share the burden of the mass movement of people around the world, while at the same time our Taoiseach, on Friday, will be going to Seville to try and reach agreement with European Governments on ways to prevent people from coming to the European Union."

Green Party MEP Patricia McKenna has called on European leaders not to approve the controversial new anti-immigration measures at tomorrow’s summit in Seville.

The legislation proposes a radical Europe-wide crackdown on illegal immigration, a move Ms McKenna said will remove the fundamental human right to seek asylum in the 15 member states.

"The problem is that what’s happening within the EU is we’re creating this kind of Fortress Europe where we are making it much more difficult for people from third world countries to gain access to the EU - genuine asylum seekers who for whatever reason have to flee their own country and are trying to seek refuge within a European Union member state," she said.