A Government backbencher yesterday called for an amnesty for illegal immigrants from the EU accession countries.
Mr Barry Andrews (FF, Dún Laoghaire) said that asylum applications had fallen significantly, creating an opportunity to consider the matter of immigration.
"One way of adopting such a mature approach would be to grant an amnesty on May 1st, 2004, to all illegal workers from the accession countries who are already here.
"The United Kingdom has decided to do that and, although our Government has not made a decision in that regard, it is the least we can do to acknowledge that the argument about immigration is bogged down on misunderstandings."
He added that Ireland, as the current holders of the EU presidency, must be leaders and take a stand. "It is rare that we have such a prominent role in the governance of the European Union, and it will be a long time before we have such an opportunity again. On May 1st, the question will arise as to whether all the illegal people from the accession countries will be permitted to work here legally.
"In my view, the Government should grasp that opportunity to demonstrate that we have a mature attitude to immigration by providing an amnesty to all such people living here on that date."
Mr Andrews was speaking during the resumed debate on the Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, one of two pieces of legislation giving effect to the implementation of the €630 million Budget package.
He said there were two basic arguments against the movement of workers from accession countries. One was the possibility of overburdening the Exchequer, which he believed did not stand up, given the number of people who would come to Ireland to contribute their labour.
The other argument, he added, was the danger of social welfare fraud, being used by many people as a stick with which to beat the Government's policy.
"Millions of euro are already being spent annually on social welfare fraud investigations. My own limited research reveals that a mere €300,000 have been saved as a result of these investigations."
Ireland, he added, had a very strong social welfare fraud investigation system which targeted employers, employees and the unemployed.
"The investigation system is well equipped to deal with any challenges arising from fraud that might occur concerning any immigrants, be they from the accession states or elsewhere."
Ms Kathleen Lynch (Labour, Cork North Central) argued that women had a great deal to contribute to the social welfare system and to all other aspects of society.
"It is not the softer option and women have a major contribution to make. However, most people believe that women have an affinity with social welfare because, at the end of the day, it is not only about the long-term unemployed and people who are sick and unable to work. Social welfare should be about the betterment of society, for instance, in the areas of childcare and caring for the elderly, and it should also be about ensuring communities operate at a level that benefits everyone." Women, she said, were "better represented in sub-Saharan Africa than in Ireland".
Ms Beverley Cooper-Flynn (FF, Mayo) said that Ms Lynch had spoken passionately and she did not doubt her sincerity.
"In the course of her speech, she stated that women expected more of other women. There is no doubt that is probably the case, but sometimes the expectations are unrealistic. It is sad that women would forgive a man for doing something but would have expected much more from a woman. I do not think that is acceptable. It is unfair that women expect other women to reinvent the wheel almost."
