Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Yes. We demanded in the treaties that our sovereignty be protected and that we have the right to make our own decisions and laws. That was important. While some of our standards are lower, others are higher. The European-wide construct in terms of migration and immigration issues is very important to us. We cannot do this on our own, as everybody agrees. Our relationship with the United Kingdom is unique and we have been allowed to preserve it. We can do this without formally opting into the agreements. However, there is a degree of protection for us in the European Union.