Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The groundbreaking EU pact on asylum and migration has five new directives. Three are already agreed. A set of recommendations is going straight to the justice committee without any opportunity to discuss its profound implications in this House. I canvassed twice in favour of the Lisbon treaty, which enshrines our opt-out on justice and home affairs, which was in the Treaty of Amsterdam, along with our colleagues from Denmark who have chosen not to opt into this legislation. When I did that canvassing, I honestly believed that if we were to opt into any of the measures in justice and home affairs, there would be a full and detailed examination of the possible consequences of either a full or partial opt-in or not opting in in this House, yet we are not getting that. We are getting platitudes. What we need is a detailed analysis of the specific benefits or drawbacks from opting in or out It is really important that we get this right from a societal perspective as well as on a legislative basis. It is up to the Taoiseach to ensure that we do.

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