182 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the decision by the Belgian Government authorities to enforce very strict border controls for the entry of immigrants; the implications, if any, this has for the Schengen agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1317/00]

No approaches were made to my Department by the Belgian authorities with regard to the recent measures they have taken to enforce very strict border controls.

Ireland is not yet a party to the Schengen agreement. However, I am not aware of any specific implications for the Schengen Agreement of the measures now taken by the Belgian authorities.

I understand that the Belgian authorities informed their Schengen partners of their intention to invoke Article 2.2 of the Schengen Convention to re-establish temporary checks at the internal Belgian borders. This decision was taken in the light of a regularisation operation for illegal immigrants in Belgium which has started and the concern that the amnesty might strongly increase the stream of illegal immigrants to Belgium.