Joanna Tuffy (Labour)

We accept amendments Nos. 11 and 21.

I support the comments of Senator O'Meara. Without the amendment the provision will put people's lives at risk. We are either not letting them into the country or forcing them into the hands of illegal traffickers.

Regarding amendment No. 8, the defence allowed in section 6(a) covers a non-national having the relevant document with him or her before embarking on the vehicle concerned. It recognises that a document may be lost or stolen during the journey but why is it not recognised that the document could be stolen before the person embarks? We could be putting genuine asylum seekers' lives at risk if we do not accept this amendment.

The Minister of State said people were abusing the asylum system but that is happening because there is no proper system for economic migration into Ireland.