Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his presentation. I echo the remarks by other Deputies about the blockade in Gaza. The problem in the Middle East is so intractable that it is easy to despair and for a certain ennui to set in. We should not be blind to the situation. I know the Minister was shocked when he visited Gaza at the nature and extent of the humanitarian crisis. The Minister of State, Deputy Dara Murphy, will raise the issue of the blockade at European level in an effort to get the blockade eased if not lifted.

I wish to raise the issue of migration in particular, because the Minister has dealt comprehensively with the majority of the issues. The Minister referred to Africa and the importance of integrating the African countries into the global economy. He highlighted the fact that many African countries are experiencing phenomenal growth rates but there has been an increase in the number of conflicts, in the levels of poverty and in population numbers. The vast majority of the expected increase in population over the next 20 to 25 years will be in Africa. Migration is a fact and it will become a more significant issue, but Europe is not dealing with it. I refer to the daily catastrophic deaths of people who are trying to cross the Mediterranean. Thousands of people are dying every year. The Mare Nostrum programme has been abandoned for various reasons, partly because the burden on Italy and Malta was so great, and as a result of the British claims that the programme was in some way increasing the number of immigrants because it was saving lives. The programme was definitely incentivising the traffickers to dump people into the sea in the expectation that they would be rescued. For whatever reason, the programme has ceased, and it has been replaced by a more modest Frontex programme called the Trident programme. I understand this programme only covers an area up to 30 miles from the Italian coast, so it is not comprehensive. The result has been more deaths in the sea.

I have heard of a suggestion that may have emanated from the Commission that all European countries should share the burden and that they should use their embassies in the countries of origin or in the transit countries in Africa to process applications by asylum seekers or others. Will this approach be discussed at the Council? What is Ireland's view on this suggestion? I am not sure what the approach would achieve, but it may prevent people from being drowned in the sea. It is not a solution to migration but it may be a solution to the drownings.