Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak on this debate. I believe migration is at the core of the Irish story. It is seen in the faces of our refugees so painfully depicted on the quays of our cities. I have seen in places like Toronto the bravery of people who took in ships wracked with disease from Ireland. By 1900, half of the people born in Ireland were living overseas so we have good reason to be understanding of the people who are fleeing to our shores. It is not just about history. Our economic turnaround has been based on creating a welcoming location for people from all parts of the world to come and live and work, and our continuing success depends on our capacity to manage migration. However, I believe the surge in migration of people now will test our values and this is a real challenge for us as a political community.

In my belief, refuge from persecution is a fundamental pillar of democratic European values. After the war and the devastation that was done, it was recognised that this was essential and it remains essential. However, the weaponisation of migration by the Russian military machine is clear for all to see. It is a deliberate part of their strategy and it is designed to create conflict in European societies like our own and, ultimately, to break what has been achieved by the European Union.

I believe migration is going to remain one of the key challenges for this generation and while it is now hitting with enormous urgency, we cannot make the mistake of just responding with ad hocsolutions. My call today is for two things: first, the creation of a citizens’ assembly on this challenge of migration; and second, the adoption of a cross-Government plan to respond to this challenge with clear responsibility for actions designated to all of the Departments and rigorous accountability for their delivery.

On the citizens’ assembly, I believe it has an excellent track record and is very relevant to our experiences now. It has often demonstrated that citizens are far ahead of the political class in their appetite for action and reform. It mobilised cross-party co-operation in this House which has been crucial in many of these instances of reform to create the necessary consensus to progress, and it has given confidence to communities and to political leaders to take on difficult tasks.

I also believe we have proven models for cross-Government collaboration that we are not putting into sufficiently effective use at the moment. We need to break down silos. We need to create those commitments and responsibility. I acknowledge the superhuman effort that the Departments at the front line, either processing new arrivals or seeking emergency accommodation, are undertaking. However, we cannot afford to create new marginalised communities in our effort to meet this urgent need and we have to ensure there is a plan in place to deliver for the long term. It is essential that we see education, health, sport, training and community structures all supported and planned now, with the resources there to support them. We need also to see the rules-based system working. We have to recognise that there are pull and push forces, and we have to manage that process and ensure that all elements of the migration system, including deportation and return, are seen to work.

I commend the Government. I am not one of those who bemoans the Government by pretending this was easy and that it could have been giving long-term advance notice to people. That is not the reality. We now need to take a new approach.

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