Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for being late this morning. I will ask about non-financial reporting, which was adopted at a meeting of consumer ministers when I was attending such meetings more than 18 months ago. There was a requirement that meant large companies had to report annually on what they were doing to reduce their carbon emissions and achieve sectoral targets. To my knowledge, that has yet to be fully implemented. The witnesses might be able to update the committee as to where that currently stands.

One of the biggest issues facing all of Europe, but I will in particular speak to Ireland, is the number of people who are seeking refuge and asylum seekers coming to Ireland. The Dublin Convention permits for the return of refugees who have presented in another European country but have found their way to Ireland. The convention does not seem to be implemented to any great extent. That is having a negative effect on people's attitude towards, and support for, asylum seekers. The Irish are a very good race who want to help people in genuine difficulty but there is - how shall I put it? - fatigue when people see refugees who may have presented in France or other safe countries arriving in Ireland. There is fatigue when people seeking asylum are coming from countries such as Georgia, which is seeking to become a member state, and saying they are fleeing persecution of some sort or another. I am talking about people who are essentially economic migrants. Unless we get our act together in this regard, we are going to have grave societal problems. The EU has a pivotal role to play in that regard.