Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021

Public bill · Government · Presented

The bill tightens Ireland’s laws on people smuggling by making it an offence to help someone enter, travel through, or remain in Ireland, or certain other countries, in breach of immigration rules. It also covers fake travel or identity documents, gives Gardaí and other officers stronger powers to stop, search, detain and seize vessels or vehicles involved, and allows tougher penalties and forfeiture of transport used in the crime. It replaces older rules in the Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Act 2000, while keeping a defence for genuine humanitarian help and assistance from bona fide organisations. It matters because it updates Irish law to match international and EU obligations and supports cooperation with other states against organised smuggling.

Formal long title

Bill entitled an Act to prevent and combat the smuggling of persons and, for those purposes, to facilitate cooperation with other states; to give effect to Council Directive 2002/90/EC of 28 November 2002 defining the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence; to give effect to Council Framework Decision 2002/946/JHA of 28 November 2002 on the strengthening of the penal framework to prevent the facilitation of unauthorised entry, transit and residence; to give effect, in part, to the Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, supplementing the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime, done at New York on 15 November 2000; to repeal certain provisions of the Illegal Immigrants (Trafficking) Act 2000; to amend certain other enactments; and to provide for related matters.

Last updated 11 September 2024