John O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)

On numerous occasions I explained in this House and elsewhere that an open door policy on immigration would be catastrophic for Ireland. Arguments about the Irish emigrating to Australia, America, etc. were thrown back at me from every quarter. When I explained that there was no comparison, few were willing to support me. When I opposed calls for an amnesty because it would attract more asylum seekers in the expectation of more amnesties, I was roundly condemned. When I introduced fingerprinting to protect the integrity of asylum law, I was lampooned. When I legislated to close the door on marriages of convenience designed to secure citizenship, I was scorned. When I strenuously resisted extending the right to work to asylum seekers because it would become a pull factor for other asylum seekers, I was pilloried.

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