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

No, if the Tánaiste listens back that is not the case. Only by retaining the powers to make our own decisions on migration will we maintain a system that is properly managed and fair and that applies common sense and common decency. It does not make sense to give up that flexibility.

Sinn Féin also opposes the migration pact because there are significant human rights concerns. Several human rights organisations outlined a number of concerns to the justice committee regarding the potential in some of the provisions of the pact and the welfare of vulnerable asylum seekers. We know the stories about detention centres in countries such as Greece. In recent days the BBC carried horrific reports of migrants deliberately thrown into the sea and put out to sea. These are stories that would make one's blood run cold. The EU is complicit in this. The EU migration pact does not address these serious shortcomings in EU migration policy. Migration does not arise from nowhere. It is caused by war, conflict, poverty, inequality and climate change and Ireland should have a role in peace and conflict resolution.

I will comment briefly on the plague that is racist commentary and that unfortunately has become too commonplace in society and particularly online. It is truly a disgrace that people chose to attack someone who brought such pride to Ireland as Rhasidat Adeleke with some even seeking to question her Irishness. It is a disgrace that we have seen people attacked and killed for not speaking English as was Josip Štrok in west Dublin. We must take every opportunity to stand against such hatred. There are people who seek to stoke division. This is quite different from those who have genuine concerns about migration. There are undoubtedly ways of raising those issues. I recognise that people have concerns and it is important that Irish politics does not repeat the mistakes made elsewhere of discarding entirely people who have such reservations. People are entitled to have their views and express them. Many people have expressed such concerns to me in respectful ways that I can comprehend but that can never justify violence and racism.

I acknowledge some recent developments. I note the Government has now moved on what Sinn Féin said with regard to chartering flights. I also welcome what the Minister said about 400 additional staff which is another thing Sinn Féin would have been calling for in addition to the point about increased fines on airlines. This is another point Sinn Féin advocated for and I am glad the Minister is listening to some of those points and I hope she will listen to further points. With regard to chartering flights, where this has utility and we do not disagree with it, it would be far more effective to ensure the rules are in fact applied and enforced because the attitude of this Government seems to be that it is not worth the trouble of following up and ensuring people have left. Just as I said that people recognise the need to provide protection for people who need it, people also recognise the rules must mean something. In 2022, there were 5,711 applications for asylum refused, withdrawn or inadmissible with 948 - or 10% - of applicants issued with orders and only 52 of those orders enforced by the GNIB. Of that 948, 317 applicants were then confirmed to have left by the Department of Justice. That is a small portion of them. In 2024, of 586 orders there were 220 confirmed returned by the Department of Justice. Again this is a minority of those concerned.

This Government's policy is not to follow up on applications and expect unsuccessful asylum seekers to debark themselves without oversight and verification. If someone is willing to leave themselves, voluntarily, that is better for everyone, but if that is not the case the rules have to be enforced and it has become clear the authorities do not know where many international protection applicants are. Our system must be fair, efficient and enforced and in my evaluation it fails on all three counts.

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