Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

We are not outsourcing to the EU. We are part of the European Union. It is important that we acknowledge that and a common approach is the best, which is why we have opted in to the European asylum and migration pact.

It is also worth noting, in light what seems to be a presumption that we are automatically bound by any agreement resulting from negotiations, that the aim is simply to give the Commission a mandate to negotiate with Kazakhstan on a readmission agreement. At that point, once an agreement is finalised, Ireland will then seek to opt in to that agreement. It is important that Ireland opt in at this initial stage because, contrary to what the Social Democrats might like, it shows solidarity with our EU partners and at the same time ensures that Ireland's interests, including having an efficient and streamlined EU return process, are fully reflected in the negotiating mandate. A well-functioning return system fully and seamlessly integrated with the new common European asylum system is essential, and we have often heard that return is the missing link from achievement represented by the agreement on the overall European asylum pact reform.

With regard to the pact reform, some of the measures Deputies have outlined in their contributions looking to have a more streamlined approach and a faster system. Contrary to the remark made earlier, a faster system would actually be fairer to everybody, including people going through the process. We recognise the need for that change, which is why we are so determined to make sure that we transpose the migration pact into Irish legislation to enable that faster and more streamlined process to take place. The readmission agreement would reaffirm that it would be applied in such a way as to ensure the protection of human rights. There is a constant refrain that we seem to be ignoring this; that is not the case.

I cannot understand the position the Social Democrats seem to be taking on this and their opposition to it. At one point they said, though they do not seem to say it any more in their contributions, that they were in favour of deportations and that they accept it as part of a process. Deputy Gannon's colleague sitting behind him told me on radio that she accepted the fact that deportations were an essential part of the process.

See this speech in context