Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Deputy Pringle that we should leave the sovereign state of England to make its own decision. It is noteworthy that we have given aside all of today to discuss, ostensibly in a neutral manner, the effect of the possible exit of Britain, when the real sub-text is, "Please, do not do this because we will be down". As Deputy Pringle said, we have had a discussion of the possible financial and trade implications and a corporate financial advisory service has been mentioned, namely, Davy. What has not been mentioned is that it noted that, if England leaves, it is likely to form a relationship with the EU similar to the ones already in place between the EU and Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, and that some sort of trade agreement will be put in place. If this happens, there will be significantly less impact on the Irish economy.

I will leave that issue aside because it has been discussed today and figures have been thrown out in the manner of lies, damned lies and statistics, with each being used for the purposes of the speaker. What I would like to the refer to are the Tánaiste's words that the project of the EU has made many mistakes and that it was a social project that had to do with solidarity. Unfortunately, she did not go on to explain what those mistakes were and what it was intended to do about them. However, she did mention that our President would be visiting some place in Cork today. Significantly, she failed to refer to any of his speeches in regard to the inadequacies of the EU project regard to the social agenda or to justice and inequality. I would welcome the day when Labour looks at some of those speeches and puts them into action in government or in opposition.

What I would like to focus on for my remaining time is the EU-Turkey deal which has been done in our name. I am not happy with it and I call on the Government, as do many concerned citizens in this country, to reverse that decision. That agreement was made on 20 March and it means we are now looking at refugees like a game of draughts - one in and one out. The deal sets out that all new migrants crossing from Turkey to the Greek islands will be returned to Turkey, that for every Syrian migrant returned to Turkey, another Syrian will be resettled in the EU, and, in quite an ominous provision, that Turkey will take all necessary steps to prevent new sea or land routes for irregular migration opening from Turkey to the EU. In return, Turkey will benefit from a visa liberalisation scheme, up to €6 billion in EU funding and an acceleration in Turkey's EU accession process.

This is a country the EU has failed to let become a member because of its appalling record and, suddenly, all of that can be set aside. Why? It is because, in the biggest displacement of populations since the Second World War, we have attempted to deal with this with blinkered vision and by putting a most appalling deal with Turkey into action.

We have left the poorer countries to pick up the refugees. Greece, which has been demonised in this Chamber for its courage in standing up to the European bullies, has taken in a substantial number of refugees and migrants, as have Lebanon and other poorer countries. What number have we taken in? We are to take in 4,000 over a period of time but it is not clear what number we have taken into this State.

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