Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow John Brady has said that the Dáil vote on the EU Migration Pact was the wrong decision.
He criticised the decision by government TDs and Independents to adopt the Pact wholesale, despite Sinn Féin warning that doing so is not in Ireland’s best interests.
He said that Ireland needs an immigration system that is fair, efficient and enforced, and that adopting the EU Migration Pact will not deliver this.
Teachta Brady said:
“This week TDs voted on whether Ireland should opt fully and wholesale into the EU Migration Pact. Sinn Féin’s position is crystal clear – Ireland should not. This is because doing so would not be in Ireland’s interests.
“We are in a unique position in that we share a common travel area with a Non-EU country. We need to ensure that we have flexibility. If we are tied in entirely to the EU system, we reduce our ability to respond and legislate in a bilateral way with Britain.
“There are only two elements of this pact that are in Ireland’s interest to adopt. Firstly, returning those who seek to make an asylum application here to the first county where an international protection applicant has made a claim. Secondly, accessing the fingerprint database. The rest of the Pact is not in Ireland’s interests.
“Despite this, a majority of TDs voted in favour of the Pact in its entirety in the Dáil.
“In this constituency, this included government TDs Simon Harris, Stephen Donnelly and Steven Matthews.
“This was the wrong decision. Ireland must have the flexibility to create and manage a migration system that is fair, efficient and enforced. Handing wholesale control over migration to Europe is against Ireland’s interests.
“That as a State we would essentially give up our ability to take key decisions to respond to changes to migration would open us up to the possibility of infringement proceedings and fines for issues that can and should be addressed nationally. This results in a loss of sovereignty for Ireland, as well as restricting the State’s ability to act and respond quickly.
“There are deep cracks in the system that are leading to inhumane conditions for the vulnerable and creating discord within our communities.
“There are also major human rights concerns that exist regarding the EU Migration Pact. Several human rights organisations have outlined several concerns regarding the potential in some of the provisions for detention, for inadequate assessments, and for the welfare of vulnerable asylum seekers. We share these concerns and believe that several of the measures do not meet adequate human rights standards.
“However, instead of addressing the failings in the Government’s approach and creating an immigration system that is fair, efficient and enforced, this week’s vote has seen the government take a leap into the dark with a wholesale opt-in of this migration pact.
“The Government TDs in Wicklow must explain why they have taken this decision.