Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The priorities have to go to the Council tomorrow, so there will be a discussion there. We will have to wait and see what emerges from those discussions between the Heads of State and Government on the priorities. It is part of the in-built process that those priorities go to that Council for its reaction. The last programme, called the Stockholm programme, provided a major legislative basis and cornerstone for a stronger area of freedom, security and justice. Ministers at the meeting were united in their view that now is the time for consolidation and implementation of what has been put in place, with a shift towards ensuring quality and consistency in implementing that legislation.

There was also a strong view about the need to gather evidence so that any new initiatives would follow an evidence-based approach to new legislation. It was felt that we should look at need, impact assessment and cost efficiency. It was also felt in the discussion that a period was now required in which to examine the legislation that has been put in place, as well as looking at its implementation and monitoring its effectiveness. I also mentioned new technology, as we have just been discussing, and it is seen as a priority area.

In the field of asylum for example, the effective implementation of the common European asylum system was considered a priority as was legal immigration and border control. That continues to be a priority area. There was also a consensus among Ministers on the need to strengthen efficient return policies with linkages between visa facilitation and readmission agreements and on the fact that solidarity must be understood in the broader sense and not limited to redistribution of people. That whole area, getting the balances right and putting in place efficient systems, is important. Visa policy for bona fide travellers was also very important and we have taken a number of initiatives here on that. The previous Minister did some very innovative work in that area. Improved integration of third country nationals also featured in the debate as did mutual recognition in civil law with the removal of barriers to mobility for EU citizens and businesses. All of those areas require further work.

On the security side, there was general agreement that one of the priority areas must be combating organised crime and terrorism with, as we have already discussed here, a particular focus on the radicalisation issue. That needs a great deal of attention. Cyber security was also discussed. The issues we have discussed here in the committee already were very much seen as priority areas.