Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Some might say we are living in exciting, challenging or dangerous times. We are very proud Europeans. The Minister of State has a very important role to play in representing Ireland, with his colleagues in Europe. However, the backdrop in Europe is disturbing. Britain is talking about exiting the European Union, while today Syriza is confronting a general strike in Greece which potentially is an additional destabilizer. In the wonderful European country of Spain Catalonia is about to declare secession. Already within the European Union there are very disturbing developments.

I will try to concentrate on two issues: migration and the rule of law.

I am very proud to live in Europe and to travel to Spain, Italy, France, Austria and Germany to absorb the cultural diversity that exists across Europe. Of course I am very proud to have grown up in a liberal democracy, just as our partners in Europe have done. Europe is a very attractive region for people who are trying to escape from poverty, war or dictatorship. How does the Minister of State, on behalf of this State, intend to address the issue of immigration to Europe? We are proud liberal democrats. Huge numbers of people are moving from areas of conflict to our region of liberalism and liberal democracy. It is wonderful that people recognise that liberal democracies are worth travelling to.

Of course we have to be, and are, sympathetic to people who are travelling to escape war. However, I suggest that there is an undercurrent to the movement of people that we have not really addressed. Is the Minister of State interested to note that a substantial number of Eritrean people, increasing numbers of Pakistani and Bangladeshi people and many Somalian people are travelling with that human mass? Eritrea has been highlighted as a terrible dictatorship that people are trying to escape. The Minister of State will be aware that Eritrea has a population of approximately 6 million. Does he think Europe is ready for a mass movement of people from an adjoining country, Ethiopia, which has a population of 90 million? The latest reports suggest it is almost inevitable that Ethiopia will be devastated by natural disaster. Given that their neighbours from Eritrea have travelled such vast distances, does the Minister of State believe the knock-on effects of a natural disaster of the scale that is being prophesied would involve Ethiopians travelling and adding to the terribly sad mass movement of people who are trying to escape poverty?

Before I move on to the question of the rule of law, I would like to say that I obviously welcome the recent discussions with Africa leaders. Maybe it is a bit too late. I think that Ireland, which has played a great role in developmental aid, is very much to the fore in arguing that rather than having people leave their countries, we should go in there, provide the supports that are needed to make those countries attractive for employment and support the rule of law so that these countries become places where people are happy to live and work. The Minister of State might give me his opinions on the recent discussions with the African leaders. What was decided during those discussions?

I would like to follow up my reference to the rule of law, which is one of the issues that will be addressed. Our neighbours in Romania would argue that they are being unfairly treated by some of our European partners in the context of allegations of corruption. Is there an Irish position on that?