Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is really important we deal with facts. The Senator asked whether this would be impacted by our joining the pact. It is absolutely the case that it would not be impacted. People can choose to believe that or not, but I have to state the facts here. The facts are very clear that that would not be the case, in the same way as the facts are clear that the 5 million people the Senator referred to earlier include people who came to the EU to work, live or study as well as those seeking international protection. That figure is not in any way representative of the numbers that would have to be reallocated. We have to deal with facts here.

The UK left the EU and decided not to join in to much of what we are discussing now. Not only have the UK's international protection figures increased, but it is now looking to have similar agreements with EU member states replicating what we are now doing within the EU. Therefore, the idea that we go it alone and that a country the size of ours can deal with one of the biggest challenges of our time on our own, without the support of the EU and without joining forces with our European colleagues, is fanciful and has already been shown with our colleagues across the water not to work. The reason we are proposing to opt in is that we are committed members of the European Union and we are already members of the European asylum system. What we are proposing is to update that system to make sure that it works in the most effective way possible and, above all, that we have a migration and asylum system that is firm but fair. It must be fair to those who genuinely need our protection and must get it as quickly as possible, and all of these measures ensure that, but firm to those who genuinely do not need our help. Again, these measures ensure that that can be applied.

I thank colleagues for their support, engagement and questions.