The Cabinet has approved a Bill under which employers of immigrants working illegally could face a £50,000 fine, or five years in prison, or both. Under existing law, only the immigrant worker is committing an offence.
The Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking and Employment) Bill, which has been sent for priority treatment to the parliamentary draughtsman's office, also proposes unlimited fines, or up to 10 years' imprisonment for persons helping immigrants to enter the State illegally.
Presenting details of the Bill yesterday, the Minister for Justice said he was seriously concerned "about the level of exploitation being perpetrated by organised criminal elements who arrange the movement of vulnerable individuals across borders in Europe. . ."