Fine Gael proposes changes to how people seeking asylum and immigrants who want to live and work here are processed.
As the number of asylum seekers increases so too does pressure on the only government centre for applications in Dublin. To address this, Fine Gael is proposing that two more application centres be opened at Rosslare and Shannon. The party also suggest that a six month deadline be introduced for processing applications.
Jim Higgins Fine Gael spokesperson on Justice, says that any costs involved would be worthwhile for the development of Ireland as a culturally inclusive society.
The party says that it recognises that there has been some hostility to some of the asylum seekers who have arrived here but it believes this can be resolved through an education programme and also dealing with the housing crisis.
Fine Gael leader John Bruton says that people coming from abroad are competing with Irish people for scarce available housing. He maintains that if the housing crisis can be resolved then immigrants to this country would be better received.
Fine Gael wants to see an overhaul of current procedures for dealing with applications for employment permits from non European Union nationals. They want to see the establishment of a statutory immigration service board which would include six government departments, employers, trade unions and non-governmental organisations.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 13 January 2000. The reporter is Paul Cunningham.
