Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Every nation-state has an obligation to protect and maintain its borders; so too do the 27 member states of the European Union.

In this context, I wish to ask the Taoiseach about his attendance at the special European Council meeting last week, where the issue of migration was addressed. It seems this issue has risen to the top of the EU agenda, as it has in Ireland. I understand a substantial package of new measures to deal with illegal migration was agreed by EU leaders, including the provision of EU funding to improve border protection capabilities and infrastructure. President Ursula von der Leyen talked about strengthening our external borders. Of course, EU nation-states have a moral and legal obligation to shelter those fleeing war and persecution. We also know that legal migration benefits our economies, among many other things. However, people are now asking for appropriate measures to be taken to speed up the determination of international protection applications, to ensure deportations actually take place, to deal with applicants coming from so-called safe countries of origin and to address the problem of applicants losing or destroying their travel documentation. What approach did the Taoiseach take at last week's special EU Council meeting?

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