Our ongoing contacts with the Romanian authorities, which cover a wide range of issues, include discussion of matters arising in the immigration area. In the course of these contacts the Romanian authorities have indicated that they share our concern at the problem of illegal immigration and are anxious to contribute to its resolution, consistent, of course, with our respective international obligations. While there does not, therefore, appear to be any basis for representations of the kind indicated by the Deputy, we will continue to keep all aspects of this matter under review.
The factors which contribute to the current increase in immigration, which is not confined to any single country or region of origin and is shared by almost all our European Union partners, are complex and require an appropriately comprehensive response. This is the basis on which the Government is currently undertaking a full-scale review of all aspects of asylum and immigration policy. This is designed to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place with respect to asylum seekers, refugees and economic immigrants. This is essential to ensure that Ireland continues to discharge fully its international obligations, while at the same time realising the many advantages, economic and social, of Ireland's development as a diverse and multi-cultural society.