Ms Lynn Boylan:

Thank you, Chair, for allowing me to contribute. I have two questions. The EU-Turkey deal has been raised and I have concerns about that also.

My first concern relates to the FRONTEX mark two agreement, which is known as the European Border and Coast Guard Agency. I have serious concerns about the mobilisation of 1,500 border agents who seem to be able to intervene in various member states to close their borders even if the member state has not requested assistance. I would like to hear the panel's opinion on the deal. Another issue relates to the oversight of the agency, which does not appear to be accountable to any democratic body.

My other question relates to the security meeting at the UN and what the Government should discuss about concerns within the EU on the behaviour of member states. We are rightly concerned about what is happening outside the EU's borders and in third countries such as Turkey, but should we also raise concerns about member states, in particular Hungary where tear gas and dogs were used against women and children? Will we use our position to raise such issues because they are happening within the EU itself? Following Brexit, we will see whether Britain will end up in the EU or not. A racist policy appears to be creeping through the EU. I refer to the wearing of armbands to distinguish refugees and the painting of doors when they are rehomed. Should we raise those issues at the UN summit? In addition, should we raise best practice? I have read that the new Portuguese Government has gone to Greece to skills match in order to employ people. They know what the skills deficits are within Portugal. Many Syrian refugees in particular are highly qualified and educated and surely the Government should be doing something similar. We have skills deficits, in particular in the area of IT. One could ask whether there is an opportunity in that regard. We should look at examples of best practice in other EU member states, in addition to bad practice and we should raise both at the UN summit.