Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "to accept the following measures" up to and including the words "migration and asylum and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1147" and substitute the following: "(a) 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, and

(b) 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".

We oppose this motion. Where Sinn Féin stands on the issue of migration is similar to where the vast bulk of Irish people stand. We believe in common sense and common decency. Most people recognise that where people are genuinely fleeing war and oppression, they deserve protection and support. Most Irish people recognise that many migrants make a huge contribution to Irish society. Most people also agree that this must be on the basis of rules and where there are rules, they must be applied. They want to see resources prioritised to those who need them most. It is clear resources are currently scarce and under severe pressure. People do not want to see a migration system that is unmanaged. They do not want to see a system that is slow, inefficient and fails to follow through. They want to see a system that is fair, efficient and enforced. The rules must be followed up on and where someone is deemed not to be in genuine need of international protection, he or she needs to be returned.

Irish people want to see a system that applies common sense and common decency. There is no sense in the Government's approach to the migration pact. The Minister confirmed to me at the justice committee that absolutely no consideration was given to not opting in to all of this pact.

See this speech in context