THE Progressive Democrats have accused the Government of presiding over "an unregulated flow of economic migrants into Ireland". The system of protection for "legitimate refugees" fleeing persecution was in danger of being "overwhelmed" by a flood of economic migrants, the party's justice spokeswoman, Ms Liz O'Donnell, claimed yesterday.

She was responding to a huge rise in the number of asylum seekers arriving in Ireland, as reported yesterday in The Irish Times. Ms O'Donnell said that in the past two years there had been a 30 fold increase in the number of asylum seekers arriving at ports and airports. The annual cost to the Irish taxpayer was £500,000 for every 100 asylum seekers, she said.

"It is clear that the Irish refugee process is being abused by economic migrants. Legitimate asylum seekers suffer as a result. While it is imperative and correct that Ireland should honour international obligations to bona fide refugees, there is no legal responsibility on us to admit economic migrants."