Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for their contributions, which I listened to carefully, and for their best wishes on this, the first day on which I am dealing with a debate in the House as Minister for Justice. I also wish Deputy Carthy well in his position as Opposition spokesperson on justice and, indeed, Deputy Kelly. I do not have all the answers in respect of justice issues and I do not think the House would expect me to. I will be very open to listening to ideas from Opposition Members and I am happy to go along with what Deputy Kelly suggested, by which I mean I am going to try to be as transparent as possible and try to freely set out what the issues are and where the problems are. I will listen carefully to any suggestions I get from anyone in the House, whether Government backbenchers or members of the Opposition, and I am happy to work with colleagues in that regard.

Deputy Carthy is right when he says this proposal is a further consequence of Brexit. Brexit was an extraordinary event for this island and in the relationship between Ireland and the United Kingdom. We are still dealing with the consequences of it. It is clearly the case Brexit is not going to be reversed in the short term. If it is going to be reversed at some stage, that is a long way down the road, so we have to deal with the issues we have here now. This is a good proposal. As a number of colleagues mentioned, all that is being proposed is that we will have an opportunity to opt in such that we can negotiate in respect of a future agreement between the EU and the UK. I do not think anyone here is opposed to that and I welcome the support across the House.

Everyone here is politically sophisticated enough to know that the contentious issues here will arise on the British side. Deputy Kelly was correct when he said this was originally referred to as a youth mobility scheme. The word "mobility" was dropped and replaced by “experience”. The British Government has stated that although it has no plans for a youth mobility scheme, it will consider proposals in accordance with its red lines on free movement. I think Deputies are very much aware that the issue of the freedom of movement of people is a highly contentious and sensitive issue within the United Kingdom. Fortunately, we have not reached the same levels of concern or anxiety that exist in the UK in respect of the free movement of people, and I hope we will not.

Deputy Carthy also spoke about the common travel area. The common travel area is a great advantage we have whereby Irish citizens can move freely between the UK and Ireland. We want to preserve that, and part of the reason we want to be part of these negotiations is in order that when the EU and the UK are negotiating, Ireland's position and the benefits of the common travel area will be well respected. A consequence of the common travel area, which I do not think we can deny because it is clearly the case, relates to migration. I think Deputy Carthy mentioned that, obviously, it is difficult to control migration in the context of the common travel area, but those are just challenges we are going to have to deal with until such time as matters change.

Deputy Carthy also spoke about the accommodation recognition payment, on which he sought a reply. I am aware of that and have been briefed on it, and a decision will have to be made on it soon. It does not relate to my Department but to the other Department, given the function is being transferred over by the Department under the former Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. I am aware of it and of the issues the Deputy referred to, which I note.

I also note the comments of Deputy Ó Murchú, who, while not a justice spokesperson, always spoke very authoritatively any time I participated as a backbencher in a debate on a justice issue. He referred to the youth diversion programme and the mental health of individuals who come before the criminal justice system, on which I agree. I visited Cloverhill Prison last week and it clearly tends to be the case, which will not be a revelation to anyone in this House, that in respect of certain offences, individuals can have serious mental health challenges. A question that arises concerns where the services are going to come from to deal with those mental health challenges. I am pleased to say services are being provided in our Prison Service, although in certain instances or for certain persons, that may not be appropriate.

Deputy Gannon said he hoped the British Labour Party would wake up and recognise that Brexit has been a disaster for the UK. I am not going to comment on anything to do with the British Government, although Deputy Gannon is perfectly entitled to his position. All I would say is it is clearly the case that many young people in Britain wish to avail of what was formerly the Erasmus+ scheme, whereby they could move to other European Union countries.

I note the support in this House for those younger UK citizens so they can continue to do so.

I listened carefully, as I always do, to Deputy Boyd Barrett. He mentioned how all wealth derives from human labour. That was the ideology of Mr. Marx and Mr. Ricardo. We need to add something to that now - to a large extent, wealth can derive from technology. That will become more apparent in the 21st century whereby technology is getting the benefits of vast wealth for certain individuals. We need to keep eye on that.

I also thank Deputy Heneghan for his contribution. It is important that we hear young voices in the House. He will be aware, as many of us were in the past, of the huge benefits derived from young people travelling throughout Europe. It is a fantastic continent. It is a huge benefit for the citizens of European countries to be able to travel around for the purpose of experiencing the cultural richness of other countries. We all did it as younger people. I would like to see it available for the citizens of EU member states and the United Kingdom.

I thank all Members for their contributions. Now, we have to go to the Seanad, which I think will be done next week. If we can opt in, negotiations will begin between the Commission and the United Kingdom. I hope it will be the case that we can reach agreement in this respect so there is this youth experience scheme. If we get agreement, we will be back before this House which will then have to approve it.

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