Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Smith's statement is totally incorrect. All migrants rescued by the Naval Service are brought to a designated safe port in Italy. Naval Service vessels do not enter Libyan territorial waters. If the Deputy were to research this matter, she would note statements made by the current and previous Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Trade in which they expressed deep concern about the conditions experienced by migrants in Libya. EU Foreign Ministers adopted Council conclusions in July 2017 urging the Libyan authorities to improve humanitarian access to, and conditions in, detention centres and to seek alternatives to detention. At the October European Council meeting, the Taoiseach drew attention to the distressing human rights reports on Libyan reception facilities. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade continues to closely monitor the humanitarian position in Libya.

The Deputy is correct that some of the detention centres in Libya are totally acceptable. I watched a television programme recently on BBC or Channel 4 about detention centres in Libya. I reiterate, however, that all migrants picked up by the Naval Service are brought to a safe port in Italy and are not returned to Libya where they could be placed in detention centres.

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