Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Both Deputy Mitchell and Senator Walsh spoke about concerns regarding migration. This is a real challenge and migration is never anything like an appropriate solution to conflict. Migration is a consequence of conflict. From an EU perspective, the priority must be to address the root causes, particularly in areas like Iraq, Syria, Libya and other states experiencing conflict and horror, meaning people are left with no choice but to flee, often without belongings or family members. It is a major issue and therefore it is important, as European foreign Ministers continue to stress, that we implement decisions that have been taken with regard to migration. An action plan was recently agreed in Valletta.

Deputy Mitchell is right and I will respond to her in a most frank and direct way. The sheer volume of refugees coming into the European Union has strained the ability of some of our partners to cope, and this has led in turn to strained relations between some neighbouring states as they attempt to offer a form of management. In Slovenia, a fence was erected along the border with Croatia. Some member states have taken unilateral action that has given rise to difficulty. Hungary has closed its border and Slovenia imposed a daily limit on new arrivals. In more recent days, the debate has shifted between Germany and Austria, and their relationship in the debate has appeared somewhat fractious.

Europe needs to continue to strive for a comprehensive approach involving some hotspots within the region being set up in Greece and Italy, for example. We need to be especially engaged with neighbourhood states and beyond, for example, including Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. We need to involve states in that area experiencing major challenges in managing the issue. We can consider Sweden as an example, one of the main European destinations for migrants for many years, as it has temporarily introduced border controls. It is now requesting a refocusing process. It is important that Europe responds in a way that will tackle the criminal networks of smugglers and traffickers. We should be in a position at all times to distinguish between refugees and other economic migrants. This presents a major challenge, and that is why there have been so many European meetings in the justice, foreign affairs and particularly at the Council and Heads of State areas. We are seeking to implement decisions that we have already agreed to take and have not adequately implemented. We must ensure there is a medium to long-term strategy, which can often be difficult.

Senator Walsh commented on legacy institutions in the North. I stress, as I have done in the House already, that I was most anxious for agreement to be reached in a comprehensive way, addressing many of the issues referred to by Senator Walsh. It was not the Irish Government that pressed for an agreement that completely left out the issues pertaining to legacy.

It became clear that there was a choice between having an agreement which saw the uncoupling of the past or having no agreement. In the circumstances, let me add with great reluctance, the agreement was to be ultimately less comprehensive but at least it ensured the devolved institutions were protected and placed on a stable and sustainable footing. There are a range of legacy issues upon which agreement was reached, and this has not been adequately recognised. I referred to them in the Dáil and it behoves everybody now, in the first instance, to reflect. The consequences of such reflection, however, must always be action. If the political will exists, which will involve an element of compromise on all sides, including the British Government to a large extent, we can set about the process of finding and determining answers to unresolved issues which have resulted in great hardship and trauma for families and communities over many decades. That must be seen, however, in the context of reconciliation because reconciliation is a prerequisite for a stable society where normal politics is working and seen to work for and on behalf of communities.

On the matter of nuclear non-proliferation, the most significant achievement was the passage of a resolution mandating the open-ended working group to be convened in Geneva. Ireland was one of the leaders in achieving agreement and we have a very proud record in this regard going back to the time of a former colleague, the former Minister for External Affairs, the late Frank Aiken, whose work was perhaps unappreciated and who was probably the longest serving Minister for External Affairs. I acknowledge his great contribution over a range of issues but in particular in the area of nuclear non-proliferation. His legacy is such as to require me to remain active in that regard, which I will.

On the migration issue, it is important we ensure Ireland can play its role in offering an element of humanitarian relief to people. I recently met refugees in my constituency who had just come from Syria and, as members will know, it was a most challenging endeavour for them. It is difficult for such people to relocate here in the winter and many of them do not speak English and have no experience of our way of life, culture, people or housing. I continue to encourage our society to offer an open welcome to these people who are fleeing the most horrific of circumstances, many of them without any worldly goods and many of them without any family.