Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I tried to moderate my question because I do not want to make any political points out of such a serious issue, but I asked the Taoiseach to outline for us the message he will bring to our European partners and the proposals for which he will argue. He did not do that. He told me about a commemorative march from Strokestown. I commend those on that march. The Taoiseach is very familiar with the walk from Louisburgh known as the Trail of Tears, a road I have walked. Famously, Native Americans assisted Irish people from the Taoiseach's county. If I recall correctly, it was the Choctaw tribe, who did more in their day for the Irish people than we are doing now for others. The problem is a result of direct interference by Western powers in the affairs of the countries involved. People are being persecuted and are fleeing for a better life. They are trying to reach a better place to live.

It has been reported that the EU will seek to stop them at sea. Is that true? What is the view of the Government on that? Will people be detained in camps in Libya? The Taoiseach mentioned the fever camps. I visited those in Grosse Île on the eastern coast of Canada and North America, where our people died. What happened in the era of the coffin ships is happening now.

The proposal to resettle 5,000 immigrants in EU states is a drop in the ocean considering that hundreds of thousands are desperate to travel. Reference is made to a package of return travel to where the individuals are trying to flee from. What is this? Ryanair? The resettlement of 1,200 people in 14 years is what we have achieved. The treatment of people in direct provision centres is not a matter of which the Government or its predecessors can be proud. Will the Taoiseach accept that as a nation that has experienced conflict, famine, forced emigration, fever camps, death and the spectre of coffin ships, Ireland needs to strengthen search and rescue operations through a joint effort involving EU member states? Does he accept that the European Union as a whole must provide more safe and legal routes to Europe for those who are now being forced to take dangerous journeys in the first place and ensure they have access to international protection? The very least the Taoiseach could do is inform the Dáil of the proposals he will put at the meeting to help alleviate the plight of these people.

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