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

Migration is now one of the major global issues of our time. It is firmly on the political agenda in many countries. We all remember the electoral promise of Donald Trump to build that famous wall to prevent Mexicans from entering the USA. Migration was also central to the Brexit campaign in the UK in 2016. Recent elections in the Netherlands, Italy, Slovakia and Finland are evidence of increasing concerns about the issue. It is clear that anti-immigrant parties and candidates are on the rise in France and Germany. We are not immune from these developments here, as we have seen from the events in Dublin on 23 November. The appalling riots have sparked a debate here on these matters.

The EU continues to grapple with the issue. Reaching a final agreement on the EU migration and asylum pact has been a long and protracted process. The pact aims to create a fair, efficient and more sustainable migration and asylum process in the EU and to deal with the surge of irregular migration.

For my own part, I want to state clearly that I believe in diversity, inclusivity and tolerance and I am opposed to racism, anti-Semitism and prejudice of any kind. In addition, migration, in principle, is good for our society and economy. I also believe that a public debate on migration should not be stifled. We now need an informed and respectful debate on these matters. If problems arise, they need to be addressed and resolved in a sensible and practical manner.

It is clear, for example, that issues have arisen as regards one aspect of migration, namely the provision of accommodation for international protection applicants, in particular in hotels in tourist areas and remote rural locations. It has now been announced that we have run out of accommodation for international protection applicants. The pull factors, including disparity in social welfare benefits across the EU states, are also a factor. Why are there so many applications for international protection from Algeria and Georgia? We cannot be blind to all of this. Like with any other issue, people need to be listened to and consulted and, following that, pragmatic solutions arrived at.

The Dublin riots highlighted the significance of the EU Digital Services Act. It is clear that following the awful stabbings in Parnell Square social media platforms were utilised to spread far-right hatred, disinformation and intolerance. I welcome that Coimisiún na Meán, the broadcast and online media regulator, and the European Commission engaged immediately on the unfolding situation at the time. The coimisiún subsequently met with the major social media platforms to ascertain their response to the spread of online, illegal and harmful content. Ireland was the first EU member state to activate the EU Digital Services Act protocol. The Act comes into force fully in February of next year. The Government now needs to enact the necessary legislation to make Coimisiún na Meán the official enforcement body in Ireland. The coimisiún will also publish a draft of the safety codes, with binding rules for consultation. We are told that gardaí have identified 14 individuals who incited the violence in Dublin. All in all, these policy developments are most welcome.

As we have heard, the European Council will give its response to the Commission's recent recommendations in respect of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia regarding their applications for EU membership. It is proposed to open negotiations with Ukraine and Moldova. We need to have a serious debate about the implications of enlargement. It goes without saying that Ireland, as a general principle, favours enlargement, but there is now an increased focus on the need to improve decision-making within the EU to facilitate this enlargement. The implications for the multiannual financial framework and, in particular, CAP will also have to be examined.

Last week the Committee on EU Affairs met the constitutional committee of the European Parliament, AFCO, to discuss its proposals for institutional reform and treaty change. Other expert groups and think tanks have come up with their own ideas. There is an increasing talk of a switch from unanimity to qualified majority voting in the Council. It may be the case that a switch to qualified majority voting could be considered on a case-by-case basis. My view, however, is that we need to maximise the provisions of the existing treaties first before going down the road of treaty change.

In November, the EU General Affairs Council considered current relations between the EU and UK, as the Minister of State will be aware. The Windsor framework has been agreed and the first phase of it is now being implemented. New UK rules relevant to all Irish traders who export to Great Britain or utilise a land bridge will commence on 31 January next year. The trade and co-operation agreement is a comprehensive document with many complex provisions and there will need to be ongoing monitoring and engagement to ensure that its provisions are implemented in full.

Like many other speakers, I want to raise the appalling situation unfolding and developing in Gaza. The bombardment of Gaza by Israeli defence forces has started again, following the truce. It is relentless. Southern Gaza is now the target and civilians simply have nowhere to go. Many thousands of innocent civilians have been killed, including 6,000 children. The EU, for various reasons, finds it difficult to reach a consensus on these matters. The EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, speaks a lot of sense when it comes to this issue and many others. At the European Council meeting next week, Ireland must continue to press for a permanent and sustainable humanitarian ceasefire and advocate for increased humanitarian assistance to get into Gaza in whatever way possible.

We must argue the case for a just and lasting process, based on the two-state solution principle, to be commenced as soon as possible.

A lot of issues are on the agenda of the European Council meeting next week. I did not have time to mention the situation in Ukraine but other speakers have dealt with that, as has the Taoiseach, and it is very much on the agenda of the Council meeting. Again, we must continue to show solidarity with and support for Ukraine. As Deputy Howlin said, a democracy is under threat and we cannot abandon Ukraine as the war continues to become more protracted than ever. I wish the Taoiseach well in his deliberations next week.

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