Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the ambassador and thank him for his attendance. He has answered one of the questions I intended to ask. I congratulate Italy on raising the issue of member states' budgetary obligations. As the ambassador noted, the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, is positively disposed to agreeing to the concept proposed by Italy.

The ambassador is from a country that attracts significant media coverage owing to the difficulties it is experiencing as a result of an influx of immigrants. We see horrible pictures of Africans climbing over barbed wire fences in Ceuta and overcrowded ships leaving ports in north Africa. We hear of the sums of money that human traffickers are making from this type of exploitation. We also see images of many of these poor unfortunate people dead on arrival or at the point of being rescued. It is worthwhile recording our appreciation of the humanitarian work being done by the Italian Government, especially as Ireland is so far removed from the large influx of human beings Italy is experiencing and the ensuing human tragedy.

The immediate problem may be one for Italy but, as a member of the European Union, how does Italy believe Europe should be equipped to address the issue? Does the ambassador agree that people will always seek to flee areas of crisis and that they have the right to do so? One must be rather cynical about what is taking place in north Africa in the sense that vast sums of money can be collected and boats can be loaded in certain ports and the national authorities appear to be happy to facilitate the movement of human cargo, with its great potential for loss of life.

Given its importance, size and the strength of its military and navy, what role does the ambassador envisage for Italy in the European Union's maritime security strategy? We hear about various European bodies which are ostensibly trying to protect the Union's borders. Greece is known to be an entry point for illegal immigrants and an EU body, known as FRONTEX, has been given the role of controlling migration and tackling human trafficking. What relationship does Italy have with the countries from which the large cargoes of human misery originate? What should be the European Union's position on fortress Europe, a concept with which I do not argue? Ireland is a small island which has experienced significant immigration, much of it illegal, and claims rights for 60,000 emigrants who live illegally in the United States. The Irish Immigrant Council, among other organisations, argues that we are hypocrites because the issue of immigration to this country needs to be addressed.

Immigration is a significant issue that is also tied into the issue of international security. We see the vicious struggles in Iraq and Syria and we are constantly reminded that many of the young, impressionable Muslims from Europe who are travelling to the region to fight in these wars may return as subversives. The current turmoil in the world, including Europe, is being exacerbated by the terrible practice of human trafficking. Will the European Union, under the Italian Presidency, address the issue in a manner that will reverse the trend?

Baroness Ashton may not like the words "battle group" but it appears in the communiqué, which refers to rapid reaction capability issues and the usability of battle groups. As an Italian diplomat and representative of his country, does the ambassador applaud the unilateral decision of France to deploy troops to Mali to prevent the overthrow of its Government by Muslim fundamentalists? Is it acceptable that Europe must react to crises by having France and other powers act unilaterally, rather than the European Union taking action through battle groups?