State may fingerprint all immigrants

THE Department of Justice is considering the compulsory fingerprinting of all non-EU nationals living here as part of a crackdown on a massive increase in identity fraud.

The fingerprinting would form part of a proposed new form of ID for up to 100,000 immigrants, it emerged last night.

A spokesperson for Justice Minister Michael McDowell said a formal decision on whether the new ID would include fingerprints had not yet been made. However, the country’s Garda immigration chief last night said he was in favour of the move.