18th July 2003

PRESS RELEASE 

GREENS SAY IMMIGRANT PROPOSAL INSULTING

The Green Party has described Michael McDowell’s immigrant proposal as demeaning and insulting.  The Minister for Justice, Equality & Law Reform is offering immigrants with Irish – born children subsidised air fares to return to their country of origin.

Green Party Spokesperson for Justice, Ciarán Cuffe TD, said, “This new proposal merely highlights the inadequacies with our immigration policy.  The Minister is playing Russian roulette with 11,000 peoples lives by offering subsidised air fares to compensate for a quality of life.”

“All the Minister is short of doing is making a deal with Ryanair and posting the knockdown flight prices on the Justice website.”

“These children are Irish children who if returned to their parents native country may be subjected to torture, female genital mutilation and other practices that could violate their human rights. By the Government ratifying the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child, they have an obligation to make the best interests of the child a primary concern when making decisions and actions that affect the child.  I don’t believe that this proposal reflects this ethos.”

“The Green Party reiterates a call for an amnesty for those who had pending applications of residency when the Supreme Court decision was made and the Green Party is also calling on the Government to appoint a Junior Minister for Minorities who will have the best interests of minority groups in mind when monitoring legislation and practice in Ireland.” 

Ends