Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The treaty clearly sets out that migration is an EU competence. What we fought for was the option to opt in. The only obligation from a constitutional perspective is that both Houses agree this. That is exactly what we are doing.

To be clear, nothing is being forced upon us. We are deciding to opt into a set of measures that we are already a member of. We have been part of a common European asylum system since 2009. This is about upgrading and improving the measures and ensuring that our system is more efficient and effective. The pact does not force anything on anyone here. It will ensure that we are in a position to provide protection more quickly to people who genuinely need it and to return those who do not – there are many – to the countries from which they came.

See this speech in context