David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Approximately 800,000 people have crossed borders into Europe this year. Some have fled conflict and persecution and are seeking asylum, while others are escaping extreme poverty in search of a better life. The majority have come from Syria, Somalia, Afghanistan and Iraq, with a smaller number having travelled from Sudan, Nigeria, Pakistan and other countries.

Since the beginning of 2015, a staggering 3,400 people have died or gone missing along the treacherous routes across the sea to Greece, Italy and Turkey or overland through the western Balkans. As we know, along with these 3,400 people, tens of thousands of more have died over the past number of years. For every one of those, a family is left behind. These people were fathers, mothers, grandmothers, grandfathers and in some cases children. We have heard some passionate speeches from people who have been at the coalface of what is happening and who have visited some of the countries people are fleeing from for their lives. There they have seen aid workers, including Irish people, trying to do their best to help and have seen the human suffering and the reality of the experience of these people. These people are in desperate situations and are fleeing for their lives and those of their families, often with their children but with no possessions or money. They are just trying to escape from the desperate situation in their countries.

This is almost impossible for us to comprehend because we live in a peaceful and relatively wealthy country. We in this Chamber have decent salaries and can go home to homes where our children are safe. We can put them to bed at night knowing we can get up in the morning without the worry of having to find a place to live or without the worry about what might happen to them or their siblings or other family members. This is a reality so many of these people do not have. This is a humanitarian crisis of enormous magnitude. The European Union as a body and all of Europe, collectively, has failed these people. The European response has been quite shocking and appalling. It is obvious that regardless of the context from which these people have fled, they share an experience of desperation so great that they are willing to risk their lives. So many of them have done that. They know that when they take these journeys, they may not get to their destination but they take them anyway because of their experience and the dangers they face in their own countries.

As some European countries tighten border controls or close borders completely, it is becoming increasingly difficult for people to identify safe routes and secure options for migration and settlement. Political leadership is vital and while we have not seen much such leadership across Europe, there has been some and some countries have done better than others. However, we need to stand united in a fight against discrimination, exclusion, racism and Islamophobia. As someone who comes from the progressive side of politics, the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, knows that the failure of politics is leading to this humanitarian crisis. The failure of politics to face up to the discrimination, exclusion, racism and the type of war we are seeing in these countries creates a vacuum and gives succour to the far right and reactionary forces across Europe. We face a real challenge and all progressive politicians must face that and show political leadership but unfortunately we have not seen much of it. Upholding human rights and humanitarian values, along with our collective international obligations for people seeking protection, is critical at this time.

There is much I could say about the EU-Turkey deal but unfortunately my time is up. The deal is scandalous. This response of the European Union is pathetic. It is a deal that sees what are called "irregular" migrants having to be returned. It is not a policy of resettlement, of reaching out or of dealing with the issue in a humanitarian way. Where is the compassion and humanity in the deal? There is none. It is shameful that our Government and this State was part of that. We can do more, even in this State alone. The tiny number of people we have welcomed and resettled here is a shocking response to this humanitarian crisis.

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