Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move:

That Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to accept the following measures: (a) Directive (EU) 2024/1346 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 laying down standards for the reception of applicants for international protection (recast),

(b) Regulation (EU) 2024/1347 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection and for the content of the protection granted, amending Council Directive 2003/109/EC and repealing Directive 2011/95/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council,

(c) Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 establishing a common procedure for international protection in the Union and repealing Directive 2013/32/EU,

(d) Regulation (EU) 2024/1350 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 establishing a Union Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Framework, and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1147,

(e) Regulation (EU) 2024/1351 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on asylum and migration management, amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1147 and (EU) 2021/1060 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 604/2013,

(f) Regulation (EU) 2024/1358 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on the establishment of "Eurodac" for the comparison of biometric data in order to effectively apply Regulations (EU) 2024/1351 and (EU) 2024/1350 of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Directive 2001/55/EC and to identify illegally staying third-country nationals and stateless persons and on requests for the comparison with Eurodac data by Member States' law enforcement authorities and Europol for law enforcement purposes, amending Regulations (EU) 2018/1240 and (EU) 2019/818 of the European Parliament and of the Council and repealing Regulation (EU) No 603/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, and

(g) Regulation (EU) 2024/1359 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 addressing situations of crisis and force majeure in the field of migration and asylum and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1147, a copy of each measure having been laid before Dáil Éireann on 22nd May, 2024.

I am sharing time with the Tánaiste and the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee. I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this important issue before the House today. I thank the Minister for Justice for leading the Government on this issue.

Earlier today, the Cabinet met to discuss this pact, which will shape European migration policy for the next decade. As we begin the debate on the pact in the Dail, it is important to first assure the public that there is a strong cross-government response to migration and the increased number of people seeking international protection in Ireland. We understand that the Irish people want to see people fleeing war and persecution treated with compassion. That is what we want to do here in Ireland - treat people with compassion - but we also need to see that balanced with common sense, which means rules being enforced without fear of favour and systems working efficiently. It means government working coherently, not operating in silos, constantly monitoring the situation and consistent, clear decision-making. Today, the Government did just that. We approved a proposal from the Minister for legislation to increase airline fines for people who arrive in Ireland without documents. We agreed a proposal from the Minister to increase the number of people working on processing asylum applications, meaning faster decisions for all, which is in everybody's interest. We agreed to free more gardaí from desk duty, allowing them work on enforcement measures.

In recent weeks, the Government has taken several measures aimed at managing our migration system better. We have designated more countries as safe, meaning quicker processing times. We have started to means-test welfare payments for asylum seekers and have begun reducing the payments to those claiming welfare while working. We have increased workplace inspections to prevent people working in the shadow economy. Through our embassy network, we have made it clear to those seeking asylum that access to accommodation is a huge challenge. The Government will shortly consider further measures on welfare and related matters. These decisions are necessary to ensure Ireland is not out of kilter with our European neighbours.

Ireland is a country shaped by migration. Our history has been woven by generations of Irish people leaving in search of a better life. That has left scars for families across the country, with every community having its tale of loved ones travelling to different corners of the globe. Today, people come to Ireland in search of a better life for themselves and their families. As a nation of migrants, Irish people know the benefits that inward migration can bring. We know migrants are often the people building our homes and infrastructure. They are the nursing home workers, the doctors and the nurses protecting us when we are at our most vulnerable. We know migrants are often the people serving us food in our hotels, restaurants and cafés and driving our taxis, buses and public transport. We know because we were them. This is also our story.

We welcome people to our shores because we know diversity is good, not just for our economy but also for our society. Ireland benefits from immigration. However, Ireland and all countries must have rules that govern the asylum system and must be upheld. Those who enter Ireland and are determined not to have a right to be here will be processed more quickly and asked to leave more quickly. This year alone, 100 people have been prosecuted for failing to have the necessary documents. Deportation orders signed in 2024 are 83% up on the same period last year. Enforced deportations are up 126% and voluntary returns are up 129%.

There is no disguising the fact that inward migration and the scale of increase are posing challenges for communities and societies across the country. We need to be honest about that and to rise to meet those challenges and engage with communities. Towns have seen their populations grow significantly over a short period. Many communities have seen hotels and other facilities taken from public use. These were the unfortunate realities of an emergency response to a number of crises across the world. Today, we are beginning to see some progress because around 15% of hotels that had been used to provide asylum accommodation have now been returned to communities. Over the summer months, more will follow and will be returned back to their original use.

Communities have often been pitted against migrants when, in truth, we need a more managed response and sufficient services for everyone. This is the key point. We must not try to divide communities versus migrants but put a more sustained system in place. By shying away from difficult discussions, those discussions do not disappear. All that happens is that this ground gets ceded to extremists who are then allowed to shape and misshape the conversation and debate. By staying silent, we would allow falsehoods and lies to become common in conversations. As politicians of the centre, we must not shirk our responsibilities. We have a duty to engage with people on the realities we are facing. Ireland is not immune to the rise of the far right and in recent elections, we saw the breakthrough of some candidates. That cannot be overstated but nor should it be underestimated. Those who campaign on the politics of division should not be sneered at or ridiculed. However, their narratives should always be challenged. There is an onus on those of us in public office to do so. This includes our politicians but also people outside of public office and there is the role of media and social media companies.

Over the course of this debate, people may well hear many claims that have little regard to fact. Therefore, let me be clear. There are no unvetted male migrants in this country. There is no "implantation of men" in Ireland and Ireland most certainly is not full. Crime does not increase in locations where asylum seekers are living. These are myths but they are worse than that. They are more than myths. They are designed to sow division and spread fear and it is these narratives that can cause riots in our capital city such as those we saw just last year. It is these untruths that have helped to bring people to politicians' homes to subject some of our families to intimidation. It is this hate that is poisoning people across the country to believe a migrant is the enemy. It needs to be called out because it is this radicalisation that has the potential to spin and spill into violence. It needs to end.

As Taoiseach, it is my absolute priority and duty to ensure Ireland has a coherent and effective migration policy and a whole-of-government approach. It is also my duty and obligation to challenge the extremists who claim to speak for this country, generally with no mandate. Waving a tricolour does not make you a patriot. It does not give you the right to intimidate. Equally, though, we must in these debates be willing to differentiate between the extremes - those on the far right, the so-called patriots with their flag-waving - and legitimate concerns and questions that people in communities across Ireland have and which deserve to be answered.

Ireland cannot allow traffickers and smugglers to decide who enters what country, while making significant money and depriving the most vulnerable of their dignity and belongings. Therefore, our goal must be to join forces with friends and colleagues in Europe to fight illegal migration. That is why this migration pact is essential. Let us be honest. There is no European state, big or small, that can single-handedly resolve this problem. Those that have tried have seen their migration numbers increase. The pact before us is a united effort from Europe, after excruciating work and negotiation over a long period, to ensure we have full control of and responsibility for our European borders and that we have a system in place that works across the European Union for once and for all. This means effective registration and monitoring. It means an effective policy against organised crime gangs and faster, legally binding decisions.

Europe is too divided and too fragmented when it comes to migration policy. By each country just looking at protecting its own border and its own rules, we risk ineffective policies that cause fragmentation and secondary movements. Reducing secondary movement to the European Union is of particular benefit to this country. Due to our geographical location, the majority of applicants have already travelled through another EU country. This pact will prevent that. It will allow return operations for all those ineligible for asylum.

In opening this debate, an important debate and one which the Government will absolutely give ample time to, let me conclude where I began. Ireland is a compassionate country full of decent people. Communities have welcomed refugees to their communities and in the overwhelming number of cases without fuss or fanfare. Communities have shown flexibility and have shown care to those who need it most. They want their Government and their public policymakers to ensure the migration system is bedded in common sense. That is what we are working to do across government. However, we cannot do it on our own.

This European pact provides us with the tools, the laws and the structures we need to combat illegal migration while protecting the most vulnerable from the clutches of criminal gangs. Over the next two days we will hear many colleagues across the House proclaim there are easy solutions to the most challenging circumstances. There are no easy responses on this, but there are practical measures we can take in the here and now, and this pact is one of them. Let us not fall for the trap that the small far right has created. Let us unite in the face of hatred, division and racism. Let us listen to our communities and their genuine issues of concern. Let us show the citizens of Ireland and of the European Union that we, the policymakers, are capable of building a migration system that works. This pact is the first step of cohesion.

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