Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

It is critically important that those who are in genuine need of protection be supported. In the past 15 years, 75,000 asylum applications have been made here. The success rate relating to these stands at 11%. The majority of those who failed to obtain asylum were economic immigrants. What steps has the Government proposed at EU level to deal with this flow of migrants into the Union in general and into Ireland in particular? Does the Minister agree that some of the steps taken by the EU in negotiations at, for example, the WTO have discouraged the development of economic ties between it and Third World countries, which are the poorest in the world? What can the Union do to change its views in respect of this matter? What is the Government's position on the proposal that has emerged in respect of the establishment of transit and processing centres for irregular migrants and asylum seekers, either within the EU or outside its borders?

See this speech in context