Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I said before and will continue to say, migration is a very sensitive issue and is abused by politicians all over the world to gain votes. Often, that is based on misinformation and hate-mongering. I will say it again - migration, in the round, has been a very good thing for Ireland. If it was not for migrants coming here to work in our health service, build our houses and look after our older people, we would not be able to provide the kind of services we provide now. Far from being the cause of our problems, migration is part of the solution to many of them, particularly when it comes to building new homes and running our health and social care services. The major companies that invest in Ireland and pay billions in tax, which allows us to run our schools, hospitals and pension system, would not be here were it not for the fact that they can attract skilled labour from all over the world. Our buses would not run, our restaurants would not operate and our shops would not be open. I will say that again and again any time anyone raises the issue of migration in this Chamber because it is important that we always acknowledge that at the start of any contribution. I hope other Members, including Opposition Members, will at least do that too.

The number of people coming through Dublin Airport without documents has fallen. We have stepped up our activities in that regard.

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