Legislation dealing with trafficking in illegal immigrants will allow for the seizure of vehicles used in trafficking, according to the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue.

He received Cabinet approval yesterday for the publication of the Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Bill 1999 and would circulate it to deputies in the next few days.

The Minister could not confirm comments by Labour's deputy leader, Mr Brendan Howlin, that two international trafficking gangs were responsible for the bulk of trafficking in illegal immigrants through the port of Rosslare. But he said there was no doubt that organised crime and international traffickers were involved.