Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left) | Oireachtas source

The Government's abject failure to behave as a sovereign nation and put its stamp on a different type of foreign policy for the EU is incredibly disappointing for many people. The EU is now complicit in the world being much more unsafe and unstable than it has been at any time previously. Not only is Europe turning a blind eye, it is actually profiting from that.

From the Taoiseach's earlier statement, it is quite clear that the Council meeting spent a considerable amount of time dealing with the so-called problem of refugees. However, the reality is that the refugees have a European Union problem rather than the other way around.

We all know it was a record-breaking year for people smugglers in Europe, making about €5.5 billion from exploiting the misery of people fleeing from war. Some 90% of refugees who manage get to Europe do so with the help, if one could call it that, of a smuggler, being exploited to the tune to the tune of €3,000 to €5,500. We know the reports of the abuses, the kidnappings, the sinking of boats and the horrors endured on these journeys. There is no secret about that horror and the people making the journey know they are putting themselves at risk at the price of their whole life's savings.

Why are they doing it if they know the risks? They are doing it because what they are escaping from is even worse. Their families are being murdered. Their homes are being annihilated and they are starving to death in some instances. This is a consequence of western wars and invasions. That is why they are fleeing. The EU has set up a system whereby people cannot claim asylum in Europe without reaching Europe first. They can only do it illegally and by putting themselves at the hands of smugglers and so on. Many organisations have highlighted the EU's failure to operate a humanitarian visa system.

The EU's response, namely, the so-called war on smugglers which at one stage was going to launch military strikes against them, is going to be just as ineffective as the war on drugs and terror with the victims ending up being revictimised.

It is disgusting that the EU has moved back to the position of concentrating efforts on preventing and discouraging people from attempting to get into EU territory rather than dealing with issues such as humanitarian visas. Why can this not be done? Has the Government raised this at European meetings? Small consular outposts could be created outside of the European Union in countries such as Libya. Obviously, the routes migrants take change but the posts could be moved around with them. At these posts, people could have their applications for asylum assessed and be issued with a humanitarian visa. They could then get a boat or airplane into the EU rather than having to venture forward illegally.

Not only has the issue of humanitarian visas to be addressed but the Dublin regulation has to go. We should be championing that. It has been a disgusting provision which the Government has milked a little bit. The Government should be pushing for an end to the closure of land borders as these are far safer for people than crossing the Mediterranean in a leaky boat. I am interested to hear what was said on this matter at the Council.

Dealing with the people who end up here is only one matter. We could be doing much better in this regard. The key issue is what we are doing as a neutral State to raise the issue of western military interventions which are the ultimate cause for the scale of the crisis that is unfolding. Has the Government pushed for an end to air strikes and other interventions? Has it raised the issue that these matters need to be debated? If it has not done so, why? As a neutral country we should be raising the despicable role of Turkey, which has facilitated the growth of ISIS for its own opportunistic and strategic goals vis-à-visSyria as well as having a role in the plight of the Kurdish population there. Why is the Government not doing so? I think I know the answer and Deputy Wallace has highlighted it. It is because the Government is putting economic interests, trade deals and deals with these people above the human rights of others. It is just not good enough. It is not in the interest of the Irish people or those who support our neutrality. The Government should be doing better rather than being an Uncle Tom to the EU which is ultimately playing that role to US imperialism.

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