New immigration service planned

Radical new proposals to overhaul immigration procedures are being prepared by the Department of Justice.

Responsibility for immigration matters would be transferred to a new immigration service under the proposals. Informed sources say the proposed service would be "quasi-independent" of Government departments.

The Department is also considering setting up an advisory board on immigration. Legislation to be published later this year will also set out formally the responsibilities of the various agencies, and the extent of co-ordination between them.

The new proposals are prompted by the rise in immigration into Ireland in recent years, and a recognition that existing procedures have to change to meet new circumstances.

The new legislation will replace the Aliens Act, which dates from 1935, with more transparent legislation. It will set out the procedures for those applying for work and study visas and residence permits here. Review mechanisms would be built in to each stage at which decisions were taken.

Before legislation is published, the Department plans to consult the social partners and the public. A consultation document currently being prepared is expected to be published within the next few weeks.

At present, the Department has overall responsibility for most aspects of immigration, but many other State agencies have a role. Gardai, for example, act as immigration officers at entry points to the State and the Department of Foreign Affairs handles visa applications. The Garda also enforces deportations and handles the registration of non-EU citizens.

It is widely felt that the lines of responsibility are not clear, and there is too much overlap. The new legislation is expected to end the obligation on legal immigrants to report annually to Garda stations.

The Department is considering publishing the responses it receives to the document on the Internet, with the aim of stimulating debate on the issues involved.

The Irish Catholic bishops have called on the Government to set up a national immigration service to recruit and select immigrants and to allow a separate body to deal with asylum-seekers. The Tanaiste, Ms Harney, has predicted that Ireland will need 200,000 extra skilled workers in the next six or seven years.