Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Sinn Féin and I believe Ireland can create a fair and efficient asylum system in a better way. We will vote against the migration and asylum pact. We oppose it for very good reasons. First, it undermines human rights. That has to be the basis of everything. That must be the basis of the message that goes out from this House. All people are equal. I will never support any legislation that allows for the detention of people fleeing hardship and war. Not all people arriving in Europe or Ireland are eligible for asylum but that does not mean they are not fleeing real hardship. If it is enough to force someone to get into an overcrowded dinghy in dark waters to set off on one of the most dangerous journeys imaginable, then they are fleeing hardship. Only fear and desperation would drive anyone to take that risk. They are often with children. They did not leave their homes lightly or come here to game the system. The reality is that some people who have gone through this arduous journey may not be eligible for asylum. In that case, we need to send them home safely but we must never vilify the individuals involved. The truth of the matter is that money and resources flow out of poor countries into richer countries. As long as that is the case, workers will try desperately to follow. Irish people more than anyone should understand that.

There are some individuals trying to whip up hate and talk about protecting Irish culture. To me, Irish culture is far more than the colour of one's skin. I was one of those people who emigrated when there was absolutely nothing whatsoever in this country for me. The Irish culture to me, which I always held no matter where I travelled, is our history of resistance, perseverance and emigration and how we were often treated on arrival. I was not treated in that way, but I saw others who were. I saw how people in Britain were treated by the National Front. I also refer to some of the behaviours I have seen here in recent months of individuals exploiting people's genuine concerns around immigration and who are genuinely looking for answers in their communities. I saw how people were treated by the National Front. When I first went to London, there was an incident in the bar at which I worked. The man, to whom I said goodnight, landed back five minutes later with a cut across his face because he looked Irish. That is the National Front and some of the people who exploit ordinary people and ordinary concerns.

The Government should never allow a vacuum for hate. Most people I know, and most Irish people, are humane and are underpinned by the greatest humanity and generosity. However, those communities need to be respected. They need information, communication and respect. I commend all of the communities who have worked hard to integrate and to do the job that, in many cases, the Government has not done. One of those communities is Ballinrobe. I was there last Saturday when Ballinrobe launched its community futures programme and its plan for inclusion and for developing its community and resources. These communities need to be resourced, listened to and worked with. There is a way to do this and a way we can do better in this country. This immigration pact is not the answer to that; it really is not. We absolutely need to co-operate and communicate with other countries in dealing with a worldwide problem but we need to be in charge of our own affairs. People need to know the people they elect will stand up for them, give them information, show respect, work with them and give them the resources and what they need to be humane communities that bring out the best in people. The idea of speculators and property developers making vast amounts of money off the back of the most vulnerable people, whether they are people in communities here or newly arrived in communities, is totally wrong. That is why we as a party have always said we need to have State accommodation and we need to do this properly, fairly and efficiently. We need to enforce the rules. Everyone needs a rules-based system. There is a way to do this. I ask the Government to work with us to do that.

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