Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has been very active in this area and there is no doubt that it is significant from a European point of view given the high level of migration, particularly in the Mediterranean area. This is a significant issue and we are very strong supporters of the FRONTEX proposals in that respect. I have had discussions with some of my colleagues and in this regard I met representatives of the Spanish Foreign Ministry yesterday and Maltese representatives in Malta when the President was there.

In December the European Council endorsed a comprehensive European migration policy, which referred to international co-operation and dialogue with third countries. The latter is vital because it is not a question of "Fortress Europe" whereby barriers would be put up to prevent people from entering.

We provide overseas development aid to developing countries, particularly in Africa, to ensure they have the opportunity to develop such that there would not be a pull therefrom to other areas of the world. They must develop favourable economic circumstances and address all the relevant issues, not least that of HIV-AIDS. It is great that some reports, particularly from countries such as Lesotho and Mozambique, show clearly that investment in the health systems of such countries by the international community, particularly by the European Union, is beginning to stop the rapid increase in HIV-AIDS.

Co-operation among member states in the fight against illegal immigration was addressed at the Council meeting. Ireland, because of its historical ties with Britain, has a common travel area and this can pose a problem. We are not subscribers to the Schengen Agreement, yet we try to work within some of its aspects where possible. We are in a unique area. When this Government came to office, the controls regarding illegal migration, particularly across the Border into my constituency and others, became insufficient. The management of the European Union's external border was agreed at the European Council meeting. Illegal migration was addressed, as was a common European asylum system, of which we are strong advocates. This system is to ensure people are not going from one country to another depending on the controls that apply therein. The availability of adequate resources was also deemed necessary.

We will be proceeding according to the aforedescribed template. I agree that efforts must be made on a European-wide basis so there will be a level playing field and so our own citizens and citizens from outside the European Union will know the circumstances within which they can proceed.

Some say it is very difficult to develop a uniform system when working in concert with other member states in the areas of policing and justice, particularly the latter, considering the types of legal systems that obtain. Some member states have common law systems and others, which comprise the majority, do not. We know from our history of the difficulties that arise, an example being the issue of extradition. I am thankful that the European arrest warrant has been agreed upon but even with that there are teething problems. We must work within the template of what is done at European level to ensure there is a common denominator that everyone understands.

See this speech in context