Minister for Justice 'confident' Government will have 'vigorous' screening for migrants
The Minister for Justice said on Monday he is 'fairly confident' the government has or will in the near future 'vigorous' screening systems in help tackle the number of people illegally entering Ireland.
Speaking to reporters in Limerick he said: 'I think we will be operating a very effective screening program once we enact and commence the International Protection Bill that I've got approval from government to draft, and it'll be brought into the Oireachtas at the end of the year.'
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Minister Jim O'Callaghan said that the current 'Eurodac system', which assesses asylum applicants into Ireland will be 'upgraded' in June, to include 'a full biometric analysis performed in respect of any individuals who are coming in seeking international protection in Ireland'.
Concerns were reported that because Ireland does not have access to certain EU security databases available in Schengen member states, it may not be able to carry out robust screening identity checks on asylum applicants.
Minister O'Callaghan said Ireland was not part of Schengen because 'we want more robust systems in terms of protecting our borders'.
'I'm fairly confident that at present and certainly in the future, in June, that we will have very vigorous mechanisms in place to assess and ensure that we properly have information on individuals claiming international protection in Ireland,' he said.
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Minister O'Callaghan said he previously visited the Eurodac screening system in place at Dublin Airport and found that all international protection applicants were 'fingerprinted', and are checked against Europol's watch list 'to see whether or not they have applied for asylum in other EU countries'.
However, the Minister acknowledged 'there's an issue arising in terms of individuals coming down from Northern Ireland' to the Republic.
He warned: 'Our systems have to become much stronger as time goes on.'
While Ireland is a welcoming country for people 'fleeing persecution', the minister added, 'we need to have a system in place that ensures our security is properly preserved'.
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Michael Gaine
Seperately, he said he was 'very disturbed' to hear body parts belonging to murdered farmer, Michael Gaine had been found on Mr Gaine's farm, at Kenmare, Co Kerry, last Friday, eight weeks after he was declared missing.
The minister would not be drawn on whether he shared concerns growing in Kenmare in respect of how gardaí have so far handled the probe.
'I was very disturbed to hear that some of the body parts that were identified are those of Michael Gaine, and I just want to express my condolences to his family in respect of that very traumatic development.'
Minister O'Callaghan said he was being 'kept updated on it by the Garda Commissioner' but said, 'I'm not going to start getting involved in talking about that investigation. I'm going to leave policing investigations to An Garda Síochána, it's not my job to get involved and start directing them or commenting on their investigations.'
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'All I would say is I would appeal to anyone in the area who has information in respect of the murder of Michael Gaine that they would provide that information to the gardaí.'
Meanwhile, following the publication of crime statistics, Minister O'Callaghan said he had a 'simple message for the Garda Commissioner and senior garda management - I want to see more gardaí out on the street'.
Asked what his plans were to reduce the number of people carrying and using knives in public, he replied: 'I was worried about the increase in those figures over the past five to six years or so.'
'The gardaí obviously have to do their job in terms of seizing knives which are being carried unlawfully. But also, we as politicians need to send a message out that it's unacceptable for young men, and I regret to say, boys as well, to be carrying knives. It's unnecessary for them to carry a knife.'
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