mktsoi wrote:
Tom
You are right about that, but the point i was trying to make was if you end up in the Garda Station. What should it be. Should you proof yourself was right or they have to proof you wrong. They were accusing that man being illegal in the country and his wife has to bring his passport over. what if he is a single guy and living on his own??? get me?
Then, I presume they would ask him for the keys to his abode and call around themselves to find the necessary proof.
I see that the MCI have used this case as a stick to beat the gardai with. But lets take a moment and look at this from a different angle. Let me use a competely hypothetical scenario to make a point.
Some young lad comes home from the pub tonight. He is a heavy smoker, he has only two left in his box of ten. He decides to go to the local 24/7 garage and pick up a ten pack of his favourite brand. Its cold, so he puts up his hood. He has been in his local, so he has a few on board. The local garda patrol notices this lad stumbling towards him. The gardai approach him and enquire as to what he is up to. Where is he coming from and where is he going. He replies, with a smoke in his gob, that he is going to the shop to buy a ten pack of smokes. In a slurred voice. The garda doesnt swallow this and asks him for his name and address. He gives the name of John Joe MacGilly. The gardai asks John Joe to show him his I.D, to prove this is his real name. John Joe protests, that indeed, is his real name. The Garda arrests him and brings him down to local cop shop under suspicion of giving a garda untruthful information. After John Joe has spent an hour in the cells, it transpires that he was indeed, telling the truth. He is released and receives an apology.
Technically and legally, the gardai have done nothing wrong.
Now, let us look at the Chinese gentlemans case. First off, there are many, many Chinese working illegally in Ireland. Personally, I dont really care as the asians work their left one off, dont become a drain on the state and cause little or no problems.
First off, remember that China does not allow its citizens obtain dual-citizenship. So that would put of a large amount of the Chinese in Ireland, from eventually obtaining Irish citizenship. I must admit, this is a presumption on my part, as I do not have exact figures on the number of Chinese whom have become naturalised Irish citizens. But still, I would be surprised if I was proved wrong in my presumption.
Secondly, and more importantly, please remember that Ireland has only recently, become a multicultural/muilti ethnic/ multi facial society. It takes some getting used. It may have been the garda in questions, first time dealing with an asian looking gent, with a Chinese accent, telling him that hes an Irish citizen. Its new to us, we are going to make some mistakes. Just like when I heard a young fella of african origin around my own age at the time, on the hill in 1999, tell the ref to "gerrup outta dat, ya ****" in a thicker Dublin accent than me. It takes time for us to adapt.
