FW: Sham Marriage's a Smokescreen to more Important Issues?

 

        

Press Release 10/06/11

Sham Marriage’s a Smokescreen to more Important Issues?
Minister Shatter today announced that a law was in the making to tackle sham marriage’s in Ireland.

Speaking at the Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence Alan Shatter T.D. claimed that sham marriages are leading to abuses of EU freedom of movement rights.

Killian Forde, CEO of The Integration Centre, countered the remarks by questioning how it was possible to abuse freedom, saying “if people are free to marry who they choose, and they are free to move around the EU – how can the Minister call it an abuse when they are acting within their legal and human rights?

“I would argue that the Minister is using this highly contentious issue as a smokescreen for the far more important issues that he is slow to address.”

The Immigration Residence and Protection Bill has been in production for almost a decade. Minister Shatter has promised that it will go back on the agenda of the current government, however there is no mention of a timetable for this.”

The latest version of the bill stalled at Committee stage with the fall of the last government. Minister Shatter is saying that this version of the bill will resume as it is, at committee stage, under this government.

  
“There a number of issues within this Bill which could have unfathomable consequences for immigrants in Ireland. Section 59 allows for the summary removal of undocumented immigrants. This would mean that if a member of the gardai or an immigration officer deemed an immigrant illegal they could then be deported with immediate effect”

“This would create a dysfunctional relationship between these two groups as it would create a power dynamic wherein immigrants would be afraid to come into any contact with people that could have them immediately imprisoned until a flight is available.”

“It is these kinds of issues which need to enter public debate – not a dictatorial-like message on who is allowed to get married as it is impossible to legislate for.”

 

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Contact: Helena Clarke on 01 645 3088 / 087-6325138; 1st and 2nd Floors, 18 Dame Street Dublin 2, helena.clarke@integrationcentre.ie, www.integrationcentre.ie
Editor’s note
The Integration Centre is committed to the integration and inclusion of people from immigrant backgrounds in Ireland. The Centre specialises in planning, monitoring and advocacy at city, local, national and international levels, and it also provides regionalized information, advice and training services. Evidence-based research influences positive change in legislation, policy and practice. We have more than 250 affiliated organisations as part of our network.