Seanad debates
Tuesday, 4 February 2003
Immigration Bill 2002: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage.
The Supreme Court has upheld the statutory judicial review system as fair, constitutional and consistent with the principles of natural justice and in compliance with Ireland's international obligations on the human rights sphere. The court also recognised these provisions as being in pursuance of the legitimate policy objectives of ensuring that the delay in removing a person from the State, which is necessarily occasioned by the institution of judicial review proceedings, should arise only where there are substantial reasons which warrant that delay. The legitimate policy objective still stands and, accordingly, I see absolutely no justification for interfering with the system which carries that objective into effect. I do not want to open a stable door we have already closed in order to provide a system of legally aided delay. I have no doubt that the latter would arise.
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