Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes:

— that, as a nation who over centuries saw so many Irish people emigrate to find safety or work, the Irish people understand what it means to be a migrant, and know how much Irish emigrants contributed to the social and economic fabric of the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and so many countries around the world;

— that Ireland is at full employment with many employers reporting skills shortages in crucial areas; while still comparing favourably to other European countries, our birth rate is generally falling; Ireland has an ageing population and the proportion of working age people is shrinking; Census 2022 shows a 26 per cent increase amongst the over 70s in the last six years; during the same period, the number of people aged between 25 and 39 years fell by four per cent; overall, the average age of the population in Ireland increased by 3.7 years between 2002 and 2022; and 20 per cent of Ireland's working age population was born outside of Ireland;

— that Ireland, therefore, needs migration to support its economy and society; and inward migration helps to address those skills and labour shortages in many vital sectors of the labour market - from highly specialist skills in information technology and pharmaceuticals through to housing, construction, health and social care - and contributes to social provision as well as economic growth;

— the unlawful, inhumane, violent Russian attacks against, and continuing occupation of, Ukraine; and innocent civilians including children and vulnerable persons have been killed and injured as a result of Russia's aggression and millions of men, women and children have been forcibly displaced from their homes and forced to flee their homeland;

— that Ireland, together with its fellow European Union (EU) member states have responded by activating the Temporary Protection Directive to provide a streamlined means of protecting those fleeing the conflict, which would otherwise have overwhelmed ordinary international protection systems in and across Europe; and

— that Ireland is a signatory to the United Nations’ 1951 Refugee Convention and participates in relevant provisions of the Common European Asylum System, including the 2004 Council Directive 2004/83/EC, Directive 2005/85/EC, Regulation (EU) No. 604/2013, EURODAC Regulation and Reception Conditions Directive; and EU member states have a shared responsibility toward those seeking protection, and work together to ensure protection applications are examined robustly and fairly and following uniform standards across the EU;

calls on each member of the House to:

— refrain from supporting, encouraging, facilitating, aiding or excusing those who would spread racist, xenophobic, anti-Semitic, anti-Islamic or sectarian disinformation or conspiracy theories of any kind;

— condemn those who would spread such disinformation and incite violence against members of An Garda Síochána, the emergency services, transport workers, retail and other workers and vulnerable migrants; and

— support the maintenance, development and promotion of an inclusive, cohesive Ireland where the humanity and dignity of all persons is recognised; and

calls on the Government to:

— continue to stand resolutely with the Ukrainian government and its people and to work in solidarity with our EU colleagues to support those fleeing the appalling situation in Ukraine;

— continue to build efficient and effective migration pathways for the essential workers Ireland needs to support its society and economy;

— continue to maintain robust border controls at our ports and airports to ensure those arriving are legally entitled to enter Ireland; and

— continue engagement with, and support of, communities throughout Ireland who have welcomed those seeking refuge, either from Ukraine or elsewhere, to foster understanding and build positive linkages to the benefit of all.".

I am pleased to have the opportunity to contribute on the issue of immigration at what is a critical juncture. As a nation that, over the centuries, saw many people emigrate to find safety or work, the Irish people understand what it means to be a migrant and know how much Irish emigrants contributed to the social and economic fabric of the US, the UK, Australia and many other countries around the world.

I agree with Deputies across the House, in that we should be able to have an honest discussion in these Houses, particularly in light of the events of recent days when the mistruths and lies of the far right spread. We are a tolerant, fair and welcoming country and those who seek to promote division and hostility do not speak for us. They seek to promote the division and discrimination that Irish people faced abroad in past decades alongside people of colour when they were told, "No Blacks, No Irish need apply". Their sectarian and racist bile seeks to deny the dignity of men, women and children.

We all know that the far right wants to spread fear and turn our communities against one another. We cannot allow this divisive tone and language to enter our politics. I therefore call on each Member of this House and the Seanad to refrain from encouraging, aiding or excusing those who would spread racist, xenophobic, antisemitic, anti-Islamic or sectarian disinformation or conspiracy theories of any kind. Members should condemn those who would spread such disinformation and who would incite violence against members of An Garda Síochána and the emergency services, workers and vulnerable migrants. As public representatives, each and every one of us has a duty to support the maintenance, development and promotion of an inclusive and cohesive Ireland where the humanity and dignity of all persons is recognised. In light of recent events, these obligations have become more pressing than ever.

In this House, we must be honest about immigration. We need to acknowledge its overwhelming benefits to us as a nation as well as the challenges it presents. We must recognise the concerns that exist around housing and accommodation services and work together to proactively to address these challenges. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, will speak more on this.

Right now in Ireland, 20% of those of working age were born outside the country. Without all of the essential workers who have come to Ireland from overseas, buses would not run, patients in hospitals and care homes would be without nurses, doctors and care workers to care for them, shops would struggle to open, the tech sector would shrink, tourism services would fail, the economy would contract, our tax receipts would be decimated, public spending would have to be slashed, and unemployment would rise. We also have to be honest about the demographic challenges this country faces. Census 2022 shows a 26% increase among the over-70s in the past six years. We have an ageing population, which means that the proportion of working age people is shrinking. If we do not have enough workers, who will keep the economy going, staff our hospitals and pay the taxes needed to fund public services for older and vulnerable persons? Inward migration is key to plugging this gap.

All of this is to say nothing of the considerable cultural and personal value we derive from those who come to live in Ireland. Many of them have become Irish citizens and are our friends, declaring their fidelity to the nation and loyalty to the State. We will have many more wonderful citizenship ceremonies in the next two weeks. These people are our husbands and wives, our co-workers, our club mates, our neighbours and our friends, and we value them immensely.

In more recent times, our country has become a temporary home to some of the most vulnerable people in the world. In horror, we all watched the unlawful, inhumane and violent Russian attacks against Ukraine. Innocent civilians, including children, have been killed and injured, with millions displaced from their homes, forced to flee their homeland and not wanting to be anywhere near us. This country has shown extraordinary compassion in our response. We have provided temporary protection to more than 100,000 people since the commencement of Russia’s illegal war on Ukraine. These people are now a part of communities across the country.

The Government is proud of the swift action it took alongside other EU member states to activate the temporary protection directive, which ensured that the ordinary international protection systems across Europe were not overwhelmed by those fleeing the conflict. It was important that this did not happen because, like all other signatories to the UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, we understand that seeking international protection is a human right. Ireland takes this obligation seriously.

Recently, we have seen a significant increase in the number of people coming to Ireland and making applications for international protection, but we are not alone in seeing these rising figures. The number of applications across Europe rose by 50% between 2021 and 2022, with Germany, France, Spain, Austria and Italy receiving the most applications. In Ireland, applications in 2022 accounted for just 1.3% of the EU total. While it feels like we have more than anyone else, we account for just 1.3% of the EU total.

We participate in the relevant provisions of the Common European Asylum System. Alongside all other EU member states, we have a shared responsibility toward those seeking protection and routinely work together to ensure that applications are examined robustly and fairly, following uniform standards across the EU. We have a robust system that ensures that all of the facts laid out by anyone seeking protection are explored fairly.

It is essential that we provide those who are in need of international protection with that status and all of the protections that go with it as quickly as possible. As to Deputies' point that Irish people got nothing when they went abroad, they did not, but why would we want that for someone who is here seeking protection and who needs help? We need to ensure that we can at least provide people with the basics when they come here seeking our assistance.

The Government has provided my Department with significant additional resources to increase our capacity to process applications. My Department has been working hard to manage the increase in international protection numbers in a fair and efficient way while ensuring the integrity of the international protection process is maintained at all times. We have already implemented a number of successful measures that are improving efficiencies and throughput and having a significant impact on the numbers being processed. Over the past year, the International Protection Office has tripled the number of monthly determinations, reaching more than 1,000 in November. We plan to deliver at least 14,000 decisions in 2024, a further increase of almost 5,000 cases. In November of last year, I signed a regulation to introduce an accelerated procedure for international protection applicants from designated safe countries. These applicants now typically receive a first instance decision within ten weeks, which is a significant reduction from the norm of 22 to 26 months early last year. The vast majority of these are refused, and refused quickly.

I will outline the situation pertaining to one country that people tend to mention. Last year, we had 2,710 applications from Georgia. To date this year, that number is down to 970. The accelerated process does not just mean that applications are processed more quickly. It is also sending a clear message that, if someone is coming here from a safe country and has no right or visa to be here, his or her application will be turned around. The vast majority of such applications are being refused.

All of these reforms have the purpose of giving status to those who are in need of protection to rebuild their lives here in Ireland while also ensuring faster decision making in respect of

those who do not meet the criteria. While it is essential that we provide status for those who are entitled to it as quickly as we can, it also essential that those who are found not to meet the criteria must return to their home country as quickly as possible. Removals are carried out when the persons concerned have not removed themselves from the State. Removals were suspended during the Covid pandemic but to date in 2023, 285 removals have taken place. My Department is currently engaging with the Garda National Immigration Bureau to enhance plans around removals for 2024.

We know that immigration and asylum are challenging issues across Europe. That is why Ireland is engaged in the negotiation of the EU asylum and migration pact. This aims to create a more efficient, effective, cohesive and sustainable migration and asylum system across Europe. The pact acknowledges that no country can manage migration alone and seeks to establish a common approach that is based on solidarity, responsibility and full respect for fundamental rights. As we move forward, we will continue to work in solidarity with our EU colleagues to

support those fleeing the appalling situation in Ukraine. We will keep developing efficient and effective migration pathways for the essential workers that Ireland needs to support its society and economy, while maintaining robust border controls at our ports and airports to ensure those arriving are legally entitled to enter Ireland.

It is worth remembering that, as Irish people, we have a unique empathy for the life of a migrant, with such a large Irish diaspora in countless places across the world who did

not always receive the welcome we would wish for them. We can decide to provide that welcome to those who come to Ireland to help build our communities and to maintain our economy. They deserve that welcome and we will continue to give it to them.

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