Mr. Brian Killoran:

I thank the Chairman for giving me the opportunity to address the joint committee. The Immigrant Council of Ireland is a non-profit NGO and independent law centre which has, since its inception in 2001, supported, guided and advocated for migrants and their families in navigating Ireland's immigration system.In our analysis we have continuously advocated clear, transparent, safe, and rights-based immigration policies and procedures which must be set out in legislation, well administered and allow those within the system fundamental rights such as the right to an independent appeal. We believe that overwhelmingly people from a migrant background contribute in an exceptionally positive way to Ireland and Europe and that migration is a success story which has enriched our lives and contributed to our development. This spirit of viewing migration as a human process, one that should be governed by a rights-based approach, has guided our analysis of and position on the current migrant crisis in the Mediterranean.

What is happening in the Mediterranean is, first and foremost, a humanitarian crisis, the biggest Europe has seen in decades. That men, women and children are prepared to risk their lives, often exploited and preyed upon by people smugglers and traffickers to try to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe is testament to the desperation, lack of choices and fear that is driving them onto the boats. The composition of those seeking to enter Europe is dominated, as previous speakers said, by nationals of Syria and Eritrea, two countries with different but deep-rooted and undeniable problems.

The protection issues have been described in great detail by our colleagues in UNHCR Ireland and the Irish Refugee Council, among others. The push factors are real and endemic and, as such, will take time and a clear strategy to address. However, the pressing need is for action that will have an impact right now, that will save the lives of those on boats in the Mediterranean. What can Ireland do? As has been said, it is a multi-faceted problem which requires a multi-layered response. We believe Ireland can:

1. Stand with our European colleagues in Italy, Malta and other countries in demanding that all of Europe share responsibility for responding to this situation. If we were in their shoes, we would be seeking exactly the same thing, rightly so.

2. Use our leadership in Europe to ensure the day-to-day response in the Mediterranean is not limited to border control measures and deterrents but is a real, robust and far-reaching search and rescue operation, with the primary aim of saving lives. Ireland is contributing equipment and people to this process and, therefore, can have a say in how it is deployed.

3. Ireland must be clear in the message to Europe that this is a humanitarian crisis which needs a humanitarian response, including safe, legal and transparent channels to migrate, about which I spoke in my introduction.

There are many options available to expand legal routes for vulnerable migrants such as looking at study permission, work status and expanded, targeted family reunification processes which have been set out in great detail by our colleague organisations. I acknowledge the work of the UNHCR, the Irish Refugee Council and, at a European level, the Fundamental Rights Agency in setting out many of the existing options. To a certain extent, the thinking has been done as to how these things can be achieved. What is lacking is the will to do it.

While the problem in the Mediterranean is being fuelled in large part by those seeking international protection, in many ways, the overall issue is larger – the lack of a coherent European position on immigration. If policy formulation in Europe continues to be based on deterrents, bigger, metaphorical and real walls, perceived anti-migration sentiment among the public, a preference for economic over humanitarian considerations or for push-back policies over legal routes, we will simply see the problem recurring in different ways.

In summary, migration is a positive, permanent reality for Ireland and the European Union. We require no less than a fundamental shift in our thinking on how it is to be administered in moving from a fortress mentality that tries to use the Mediterranean as a moat to one which sees migrants as human beings, net contributors to society and people with rights. Ireland has a long and proud history of standing up when humanitarian crises strike. We appeal to the Government and the people of Ireland to do the same in the current circumstances.

I again thank the Chairman for giving me this opportunity to address the committee.