The doctor's trade union has criticised plans for a new law to tackle the problem of illegal refugees. Delegates at the annual conference of the Irish Medical Organisation have claimed the proposed legislation is "racist and draconian". The conference was told there are 7,000 asylum seekers in the Republic and that plans to change the Aliens Act are aimed at criminalising and deporting refugees.
Cork Doctor, Mary Favier, said these changes mean public service workers, as part of their contract, would be responsible for checking the legal status of aliens. She said if asylum seekers looked for medical help, doctors would have to check their papers. Dr Favier said this amounted to "snitching" on a very vulnerable group of people. She said it would be unethical, and would turn doctors into quasi-immigration officials.
A Limerick GP, Dr Jim Molloy, said changes in the legislation are a direct conflict of the doctor-patient relationship. He said they would be racist, contrary to human rights and could be a contravention of the Geneva Convention.
