Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate on the pact, a matter of profound significance and immediate concern to the people of Ireland. It is a subject that touches the very fabric of our society and calls for a unified European response. Migration is one of the most important issues of our time. Ireland, for the first time in our history, is experiencing significant inward migration. This influx, driven by those fleeing war, the impact of climate change and economic factors, has become a cornerstone of our nation. Migrants now constitute 20% of our workforce. They have become integral in such sectors as healthcare and construction, where their contributions are invaluable.

The EU pact on migration and asylum represents a landmark shift in our approach to asylum and immigration. By opting in, Ireland will fully align with the EU, enhancing our border security and ensuring faster processing of applications within legally binding timeframes. We will see rapid processing at designated centres, especially for those without documents or from countries not afflicted by war or persecution. Moreover, there will be greater focus on returning unsuccessful applicants to their home countries and other countries through which they have passed.

I commend the efforts of my colleague, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, who has taken significant strides in this area, doubling the staff in the International Protection Office and tripling decision-making, with plans for further increases; introducing fast-tracking of applicants from ten safe countries, those already protected in Europe and the most representative nationalities of the previous quarter; implementing more than 3,000 door step operations on flights that pose risks of irregular migration; An Garda Síochána’s successful prosecution of individuals arriving without proper documentation, and a substantial increase in deportation orders and enforcement of deportations, reflecting our commitment to a firm but fair immigration policy.

Let us be clear. Ireland cannot face this challenge alone. Without the migration pact, we risk becoming an outlier, left with less effective measures and no means to return individuals to other EU states. This could lead to an unsustainable increase in applications. We need co-operation and we need other countries to be willing to accept people who should not be processed here. This approach offers us all in Europe a real opportunity to work together to design a system that is firm but fair, based on a fair sharing of responsibility that works for everyone. Therefore I urge that we formally request to opt in to the pact as soon as possible. This will not only ensure that we stand readily alongside other European counterparts but also allow us to access vital implementation supports from the EU Commission.

Ireland's response to migration must be a co-operative effort. We need a system that is firm but fair, one that is based on fair sharing of responsibility, and works for everyone. The EU pact on migration and asylum offers us a chance to work together to build a future that represents the dignity of every individual while safeguarding the integrity of our borders.

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