Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will pick up on a point made by Deputy Wallace. The European Union was also building capacity in Libya aimed at improving conditions for the exact people to whom the Deputy referred. That is a known fact which the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Coveney, has stated in the House. Operation Sophia is only one element of the European Union's response. We in Ireland are playing our part, as is every other member state.

On the point made by Deputy Ó Snodaigh, migrants picked up under Operation Sophia are brought to a safe European port. We do not operate within Libyan waters. We did not operate in Libyan waters either under Operation Pontus. It is part of our mandate that we do not operate within-----

See this speech in context