Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I constantly hear the statement that Ireland is the only country with a land border with the UK. It is not. Spain has a land border with Gibraltar. That must be taken on board. We might regard it as a tiny part of the UK, but it is nonetheless a part of it. Anybody who has ever travelled to Gibraltar and sat for an hour and a half or two hours in traffic will be aware of that. It is as much a part of the UK as Northern Ireland or any other part.

Finally, I agree with my colleague Deputy Durkan on migration. Quite frankly, the European Union has been disgraceful in how it has handled migration. I believe that when the LE Eithne, the LE William Butler Yeatsor whatever other ship it is picks up migrants in the Mediterranean they should be brought back to Ireland. They are on Irish soil the moment they are brought onto one of those ships. We should take responsibility. We talk about humanitarianism all the time, yet we sit idly by watching entire cities being bombed to extinction. Incidentally, I do not wish to see the creation of a European army to protect our borders, which I heard mentioned in Brussels last week. I would love to see the creation of a European police force to stop the thugs living in Spain sending people to Dublin to murder others. I would be quite happy with that, but certainly not a European army.

I realise the Commissioner is in a hurry. I will conclude and thank him for his attendance.