Border no barrier to Chinese illegal immigrants

IN her news analysis feature headlined ‘Barriers to Fortune’ (November 28), Áilín Quinlan caused many of us surprise by claiming the Chinese population in Ireland now is approximately 50,000.

Most informed estimates for some time have put it at 100,000 or more.

I take it as a given that the Government has not issued 100,000 visas to the Chinese.

Considering we are open to immigration from approximately 450 million people in the EU, Justice Minister Brian Lenihan would have some explaining to do.

A huge proportion of the Chinese presence has to be illegal. So-called student visas are in reality being abused by economic migrants.

It is known that most Chinese illegal immigrants come across the border from the North.

We have anecdotal evidence of Chinese offering extra money to taxi drivers bringing them to Dublin to remove the sign from the roof as taxis are more likely to be challenged.

There is a need to extend Operation Gull which is a joint British/Irish immigration check from the current three or four days a fortnight to every day to deal with this mass illegal Chinese entry.

I, and many others, would like a Christmas present from Mr Lenihan — namely a promise to deport 100 Chinese illegals each month in 2008, making a paltry 2,400, but giving a clear message that mass Chinese illegal entry or overstay will not be tolerated.

Áine Ní Chonaill

PRO

Immigration Control

Platform

PO Box 6469

Dublin 2