Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and his officials for attending. I do not have a question for the Minister. I support the motions seeking to enable Ireland to opt in to continue our participation in Eurodac and SIS II. I am conscious of the fact that the Dáil previously approved our participation in these systems, so in effect what we are doing is supporting these motions in order to continue our participation in them.

I note what Deputy Clare Daly said. It is correct to state that we should not link migration with terrorism, but we do have an issue in the European Union in respect of crime and terrorism and it has to be dealt with and one of the ways to deal with it is through increased police co-operation. I think these motions will assist in that co-operation continuing. When one looks at what is happening in the United Kingdom at present and the chaos they have got themselves into over Brexit, one of the real concerns they have, which has come home to roost, is that if they depart from the European Union without a deal, there will be issues in terms of the safety of that country, and that is the main reason why the Cabinet Secretary has given advice to the Cabinet there that they should not go out with no deal.