Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I strongly condemn all human rights violations and abuses against refugees and migrants, both in Libya and along the central Mediterranean route. I am aware of reports of appalling conditions currently faced by migrants in Libya.

The security situation in Libya is fragile, and the government has only partial control of the territory, which limits the capacity of the international community to ensure accountability in response to reports of abuses.

At the June 2017 Foreign Affairs Council, FAC, Ireland expressed deep concern at the conditions experienced by migrants in detention centres in Libya. EU Foreign Ministers adopted Council conclusions in July, which urge the Libyan authorities to improve humanitarian access to and conditions in detention centres, as well as to look for alternatives to detention.

The EU has a number of initiatives which provide assistance and protection to migrants in Libya, in particular inside detention centres. The EU also supports the work of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, and the International Organization for Migration, IOM, to ensure that there are adequate reception facilities for migrants. The EU also provides training and other support to enhance the border management capacities of the Libyan authorities. Total EU support to these initiatives amounts to €182 million.

Bringing real improvements to the situation of migrants in Libya will require restoration of political stability, through the formation of a functioning government and a return to order throughout the country. Ireland both supports UN mediation and regional efforts in pursuit of stabilisation in Libya.

The fight to reduce poverty in countries of origin, which is one of the main drivers of large irregular migratory flows, remains firmly at the core of Ireland’s aid programme.

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