Irish penalties
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• Irish carriers will soon be subject to the same penalties that are imposed on their UK counterparts if they are found to be carrying illegal immigrants.
However, it is thought that the Irish system will be less comprehensive than the UK's with hauliers not facing automatic liability for stowaways.
Irish Minister for Justice John O'Donoghue TD says: "If illegal passenger's are carried, the carrier fie ferry operator] will face an automatic fine." It will be Incumbent upon carriers to examine the papers of anyone on board.
But Irish hauliers will only be responsible for checking the papers of passengers they knowingly carry. This means that if the haulier does not know of the stowaways in his vehicle 'no liability will arise", says O'Donoghue.
A code of practice has been agreed between the government and hauliers which the hauliers must uphold to prevent stowaways entering their trucks.
And if the self-regulation plan fails, hauliers who either knowingly carry illegal immigrants or fail to take sufficient precautions to prevent them hiding on their vehicles could face prosecution.
Under the Irish legislation carriers face an automatic fine of IR22,500 per stowaway—and that could rise to IA210,000 per stowaway if a fine is contested in court and the haulier loses the appeal.
The Irish legislation will not apply to truck movements between Ireland and the UK as both countries are within an EU Common Travel area.
NI Up to 100 Irish hauliers are awaiting appeals in Britain against automatic fines imposed for carrying illegal immigrants into Britain from the Continent.