Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Would the Minister not agree that the decision of Médecins sans Frontières to no longer accept funds underscores a major problem with this arrangement? From the very outset, Fianna Fáil expressed its reservations about the arrangement. I am particularly concerned about the treatment of those who are fleeing war and persecution and the fact that Turkey has been designated a safe country for refugees, even in light of its record on human rights - consider the recent shut down of media and the arrests of journalists. Médecins sans Frontières has argued that the European response - I would agree with it to some degree - has focused on deterrents rather than providing people with assistance and protection they need.

By way of a supplementary question, I ask the Minister to consider the issue of unaccompanied minors as part of this deal, or the issue of Ireland's funding. How sure are we that the funding, pledged by the Minister at the London pledging conference, is actually going to where we want it to go? Is that funding going to strengthen hard borders within Europe to stop migrants, who are being persecuted in Syria and Iraq, from fleeing in to Europe?

See this speech in context