Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)

I agree with the thoughts expressed regarding the implementation of Nos. 20 to 22, inclusive. This is an area into which, through practice, an enormous amount of uncertainty has been imported. In the establishment of a regime, it would make sense if precise principles were laid down. However, they cannot be laid down unless debated in the House. One of my reasons for not just nodding these three motions through is based on the appalling and unacceptable remarks by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, on the question of refugees, without straying off the specific purpose of these resolutions from the European Parliament. If we were in the happy case of having impeccable practice, sound regimes, certainty in the process and openness in the decision making, we might be in a position to give them a cursory treatment. In the absence of this, it makes sense to have them debated properly in the House.

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