Seanad debates

Tuesday, 4 February 2003

Immigration Bill 2002: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage.

 

The Senator will, on reflection, take a certain view of the potential culpability of an employer who employed many employees in circumstances of grave exploitation. Employers may be tempted to deliberately breach the law if they knew that the only summary penalty capable of being imposed by a District Court was a fine of €3,000. I am sticking by the severe penalties, where the offence is prosecuted on indictment, provided for in the Bill. I want Irish companies to understand they should never knowingly employ somebody who is not authorised to work in the State as to do so would be to commit an offence. Employers should be aware that in certain circumstances, if the subtending facts of the case are serious enough, they will be subjected to a serious prosecution and expose themselves to very serious penalties.

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