Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. Sinn Féin opposes the migration and asylum pact for very good reasons and we will vote against it. In our view, the majority of the measures contained in the pact are not in Ireland’s interests. Instead, we must retain our sovereignty on these matters if we are to have an immigration system that is fair, efficient and enforced. We must also recognise our particular circumstance in that we share a common travel area with Britain. Sinn Féin’s position is the same as that of the majority of the Irish people, in my opinion. Most people recognise that when people seek asylum they need protection and support and that must be provided. Most people recognise the huge contribution that migrants make to Irish society and most people also want to see a migration system that makes sense, with the rules being fair and applied to everyone and that they are applied. They want to see a system that is fair, efficient and enforced, that applies common sense and common decency. They want a system in which they can have confidence, that reassures them and recognises their concerns, hears their questions and answers them. When we do not have this it creates a space for people to spread hate, fear and division. The truth is that Ireland can have a fair, efficient and enforced system without the EU pact. Such a system would involve quicker decisions and greater enforcement. Decisions on asylum applications take far too long here. Almost 19 months for an IPO decision under standard processing cannot be described as efficient. This must be addressed. Sinn Féin would overhaul the international protection system by accelerating decisions through increased resources and legal reforms and by prioritising the safe return of people to their home countries if their applications fail and they are found to be not eligible for international protection.

An improved system would also involve greater engagement with communities. The shambolic approach by the Government is continuing to this day. The Government has no plan, no consistent approach and is not working with local communities. There is a drip feed of information, all of which is partial and some of which is disseminated only to be directly contradicted later. Thornton Hall is a case in point. At a briefing on 28 May, local Oireachtas members were told that part of the site was fully serviced and would come into operation as an accommodation centre by the end of June. Media reports last weekend directly contradicted this. Questions remain unanswered in relation to timelines at Thornton hall. What are they now? What is the situation with planning compliance including among other things in relation to proximity to the airport and aircraft noise? What is the situation regarding infrastructure availability and capacity for example as was reported at the weekend in terms of sewage? What are the details of the proposed dedicated bus service? Is it still proposed, what will its schedule be and where will it go? Importantly in relation to ancillary supports and services, health, mental health, education, community, social protection etc. where are these to be sourced? It is patently clear that the capacity does not exist locally so what is the plan or is there a plan at all? If there is, then public representatives, community representatives and residents do not know about it. I have written to the community engagement team in the Department and to the Ministers, Deputies O'Gorman and McEntee. However, I have had no update other than to say there will be an update in due course. This is not good enough and it must be addressed. We need straight answers provided in a timely fashion and we are not getting them. This is something I and other representatives will continue to pursue. We need a migration system that works, one that reflects the inherent and long-displayed decency of the Irish people and one that supports people in need. We need a system that is fair, efficient and enforced. We can have that without opting into the EU pact. In fact, we can have that without opting into the EU pact. That is where the focus should be.

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