Govt considers use of detention centres in Immigration Bill
The Government is considering introducing detention centres for immigrants from certain parts of the world.
The Tánaiste, Michael McDowell said his new Immigration Bill has a provision to allow the state to detain immigrants until their applications for asylum are heard.
According to him, detention centres can help to avoid abuses of the system, as there has been a pattern of unfounded claims in the past.
He said immigrants from certain countries - particularly in sub-Saharan Africa - will be targeted.
"We're talking about the establishment of centres where people who come from an area where there is a high degree of abuse are required to live while their claim is being investigated, said McDowell.
"This will be rather than making a claim and then disappearing into Irish society and never resurfacing again."
