Sun, Nov 22 2009

Ireland to crack down on illegal Bulgarian, Romanian immigrants

Sun, Jun 14 2009 19:24 CET 2405 Views 8 Comments
Ireland to crack down on illegal Bulgarian, Romanian immigrants

Photo: Julia Lazarova

Ireland's employment rights agency Nera will launch a check to find close to 5000 Romanians and Bulgarians suspected of working illegally in the country, The Times of London reported on June 14.

"The get-tough campaign was revealed in briefing notes prepared for Dara Calleary, the new junior minister at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and released under the Freedom of Information Act," the newspaper said.

Any Irish company found to have hired staff without the appropriate permits could be fined up to 250 000 euro or imprisoned for up to 10 years, according to the report.

Ireland is one of the European Union countries that decided to keep their labour markets closed to Romanian and Bulgarian workers when the two countries joined in 2007. The interdiction runs out in 2011.

Nera director Ger Deering was quoted as saying that his agency had a list of 2000 companies suspected of employing illegal Romanian and Bulgarian workers. "We’ve been asked by the minister to look into this," he said.

Non-EU citizens, along with Romanians and Bulgarians, can only apply for permits in certain industries. All jobs have to be advertised for eight weeks — up from four — to EU citizens before non-EU workers can apply, The Times said.

Comments

Anonymous Romanian Tue, Jul 28 2009 16:41 CET
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They are mostly Gypsies. For people who want to work here (in Romania), there are enough well-paid working-places. The Gypsies want only to steal and beg, they don't like to work. But I don't want them to return in my country, let them stay in your country, give them citizenship and be happy.

Anonymous xxx Fri, Jul 17 2009 01:40 CET

This comment has been removed by the moderator because it contained .

Anonymous JD Knight Tue, Jun 16 2009 13:43 CET
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Bulgarians and Romanians cannot be illegal immigrants in Ireland - they may be working illegally, but they have every right to be there. If they are self-employed, then they do need to register with the tax authorities as they need to pay their taxes, but there is no requirement in EU Law for them to register with the immigration authorities. The UK authorities did this and many people - who were legitimately self-employed paid the £1 000.00 fine, which they need not have done

Anonymous JohnJo Mon, Jun 15 2009 22:03 CET
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Criss i agree about human rights that was not the issue. I do not have a problem with genuine people trying for a better life but if we are all part of the EU why should we have to take in all the scroungers so i still say shut the UK and Irish borders i agree with Cosmos on this we need more BNP.

Anonymous cosmos Mon, Jun 15 2009 21:51 CET
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Why should we have to take care of Roma Gypsies that are smuggled into Ireland or the UK they even send there pregnant children as young as 12yrs. If you are really concerned i will send them to your house and you feed them. These people are not in the UK or Ireland to work but to steal,scrounge,pick your pockets on the tube. So i will say again well done to UKIP & THE BNP the people have spoken.

Anonymous criss Mon, Jun 15 2009 19:27 CET
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this is discrimination..where are the human rights?!..we all should have same rights as we are in the same Europe..

Anonymous ireland Mon, Jun 15 2009 17:29 CET
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r u all mad, there are more then just gypsies working in this country!!!!!! many of them get nothing when they come here only the jobs that the irish seem to believe there too good for!! do you all forget so soon that it was once the irish who went to other countries for a better life, where we then also scroungers!?? people should be given the chance, not all of them are bad, and with the way our country is at the moment it wont be long till your children will be moving away for a better life, i hope they get treated better then how u all treat the "undesirables"

Anonymous sir charles Mon, Jun 15 2009 15:42 CET

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Anonymous Budgysmuggler Mon, Jun 15 2009 05:11 CET

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Anonymous corina dublin Sun, Jun 14 2009 23:37 CET
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How you dear???
More than 50% of those people have higher degrees and yet accepted the lowest jobs, jobs that were never desired by the nationals..And still aren't desired as the benefits their getting without having to lift a finger are bigger than most of the payments those "foreigners", still EU citizens, receive.

Anonymous cosmos Sun, Jun 14 2009 22:33 CET

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Anonymous London Sun, Jun 14 2009 21:16 CET

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Anonymous JohnJo Sun, Jun 14 2009 20:17 CET
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When will the UK adopt this stance ,keep up the good work Ireland.

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