Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Tuesday, 23 April 2024
Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality
EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion
3:30 pm
Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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We are talking about numbers in legislation that in no way reflect the reality on the ground. I just do not understand that. I have only a few seconds remaining but I will come back. The Minister commented several times that Ireland would be more attractive to asylum seekers if it did not opt in. I find that hard to believe. Denmark, which has a much tougher asylum system than we have, decided not to opt in. If the Danish thought that staying out would make the country more attractive, I suspect they would have opted in. I do not expect the Minister to comment on Danish policy, but we should not neglect that fact.