Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We of all countries should be able to empathise with what is happening in the Mediterranean, seeing our people also suffered that fate in the middle of the 19th century. This has been left to the Italians and other Mediterranean states to deal with. This shows a severe lack of political leadership at EU level where bureaucracy reigns supreme while the interests of citizens are secondary. We have seen that ourselves in economic issues.

It is a pity it has taken a major disaster with a significant loss of life to get everybody to focus on the problem. My understanding is the Italians were funding Operation Mare Nostrum, they sought EU financial support for it but it was not forthcoming. As a consequence, because of its own fiscal situation, the Italians had to scale it back, spending a third of what they used to.

They are now spending approximately one third of what was spent previously to carry out what are in effect border control activities off the Italian coast to pick up migrants. The European Union must support a proper sea rescue effort. Last week, while visiting the Greek island of Samos, I watched a police vessel leave the harbour. Local people told me that seven or eight migrants had been found earlier. Migrants are arriving daily on the Greek island of Rhodes, which is close to Syria. The loss of life among those making the journey at sea is significant.

Let us not forget that the people arriving at European ports are at great risk, not only at sea. Last week, 31 Christians from Ethiopia were slaughtered by Daesh in Libya. Migrants face risks even before they put to sea. We are dealing with the symptoms of the problem. The international community must address the core issue, namely, the current problems in the Middle East and Africa. A search and rescue effort is needed. The Government should take a much more proactive role and bring to bear Irish experience and empathy in this area.