Amnesty slams proposed immigration laws

Amnesty International has added its voice to the cacophony of opposition to the Government's proposed new immigration legislation.

The Dáil is debating the Immigration Bill, which was introduced after the High Court ruled that existing immigration controls were illegal.

Last night, the Human Rights Commission expressed concern that the bill was being rushed through without proper consultation and debate about its implications.

Amnesty International said today that the proposed new legislation failed to respect the basic human rights of non-nationals.

Spokeswoman Fiona Crowley said many of the grounds on which non-nationals could be denied entry to Ireland were too vague, particularly grounds relating to mental illness.

"To try to re-enact a piece of legislation and rush it through in such a haphazard fashion shows that the immigration policy is not proceeding in a fair and humane way," she said.