Stages of the Immigration Bill as it goes through Dáil Éireann (Irish Parliament)

The Immigration Bill 2008 will come into law in the summer. The major changes in the bill appear to relate to marriage and deportation.
A Public Talk on the proposed legislation, organised by Integrating Ireland, will take place at 6.45pm on Thursday February 21st in the Harbour Hotel, Docks Road, Galway City.
This is the link to get a full copy of the bill: http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/bills/2008/0208/B0208D.pdfThe Immigration Bill 2008 will need to go through the stages below before it is passed – you can follow these documents as they are released by the Dail on http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?DocID=8701&&CatID=59

The stages of a bill initiated in Dáil Eireann can be found at: https://86.43.111.143/Exchange/info/Drafts/FW:%20Immigration,%20Residence%20and%20Protection%20Bill.%20Released.EML/1_text.htm#_ftn1

Stage: First stage Formal introduction of bill
Matters decided: securing agreement that the bill proceed to second stage. Virtually all bills (government bills, and private members’ bills introduced by a ‘group’ of at least seven deputies), can be presented to the house without needing this formal agreement, and enter the process at the second stage.

Second stage: Debate on the broad principle of the bill
Matters decided: The details of the bill are not discussed at this stage, and the substance of the bill cannot be amended. The vote taken after the second stage debate (assuming there is one — a significant number of bills are passed by agreement of the house, without the need for a vote) determines whether the bill is allowed to proceed to almost certain acceptance or is rejected.

Stage: Third stage Committee stage
Matters decided: The bill is examined in detail by a committee (in the past, almost invariably, the ‘committee’ consisted of the whole Dáil; since 1997, specialist fourteen-member committees have undertaken this task). The bill is discussed section by section. Amendments may be proposed, provided they do not conflict with the principle of the bill, since this was approved by the house at the second stage.

Stage: Fourth stage Report stage
Matters decided: Usually a formal tidying up of amendments made at third stage. New amendments may be proposed provided that they are not substantively the same as amendments rejected at the third stage.

Stage: Fifth stage- the final and formal passing of the bill
Matters decided: Speeches at this stage tend to be shorter and usually same versions of those on the second stage. The bill now goes to the Seanad for discussion.

Stage: Final stages
Matters decided: When it returns from the Seanad the Dáil discusses the changes, if any, proposed by the Seanad. If it accepts them, the bill is sent to the President, for signing into law or, in the President’s discretion, for referral to the Supreme Court for a verdict on its constitutionality. If the Dáil does not accept the Seanad’s suggested amendments, it sends the bill back to the Seanad for reconsideration. The Seanad may fall into line with the wishes of the Dáil or it may reaffirm its amendments, in which case it can delay but not veto the passage of the bill.

Note: Bills can also be initiated in the Seanad. In this case they then go to the Dáil after being passed, but, in the event of the Dáil deciding to make amendments, they are treated as if they had been initiated in the Dáil (Article 20.2.2) of the constitution).

For further information, contact Adenike Ololabi
Administrator nike@ris.ie
Refugee Information Service,
18, Dame Street,
Dublin 2
Tel:(01) 6453070
Direct Line; (01) 6453080 Fax (01) 6770061
Web:www.ris.ie e-mail:info@ris.ie