Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps he is taking to address the problems forcing persons to seek asylum within the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25448/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The problems forcing people to seek asylum within the EU and elsewhere are many and all too common. They must be addressed by the international community with all the instruments and resources at its disposal. All human rights violations must be condemned wherever they occur and those responsible for persecution cannot be allowed to operate with impunity.

Persecution and conflict flourish in situations of extreme poverty and where climate change has had a disastrous impact on living conditions. These closely-related factors present a complex challenge requiring a range of policy responses. Given that the great majority of the world's asylum seekers come from developing countries, it is vital the EU and other countries consider ways to support third countries in finding solutions to their problems.

Ireland, bilaterally and in co-operation with its EU and UN partners, consistently follows a multi-faceted approach to the causes which have forced people to flee. This begins with our advocacy of the protection of human rights and continues through efforts to ensure conflict resolution, and the encouragement of policies aimed at poverty reduction, sustainable development and economic growth. The Irish Aid programme in particular is firmly focused on these objectives.

At EU level, the European Commission last June published a Green Paper on the future of the common European asylum system. The paper, which Ireland welcomes, recognises many of the key challenges faced by member states in the operation of their asylum policies and procedures, as well as the need for increased co-operation on approaches at EU level to prevent so-called asylum shopping. It also ensures that those individuals genuinely in need of protection receive it as soon as possible.

The majority of people have no wish to uproot themselves from their communities, frequently leaving their families behind, to undertake often dangerous journeys to unknown and uncertain destinations. If people are provided with a minimum level of economic opportunity and the security provided by a functioning accountable Government and basic public services, they will choose to stay in their own countries, towns and villages.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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It is critically important that those who are in genuine need of protection be supported. In the past 15 years, 75,000 asylum applications have been made here. The success rate relating to these stands at 11%. The majority of those who failed to obtain asylum were economic immigrants. What steps has the Government proposed at EU level to deal with this flow of migrants into the Union in general and into Ireland in particular? Does the Minister agree that some of the steps taken by the EU in negotiations at, for example, the WTO have discouraged the development of economic ties between it and Third World countries, which are the poorest in the world? What can the Union do to change its views in respect of this matter? What is the Government's position on the proposal that has emerged in respect of the establishment of transit and processing centres for irregular migrants and asylum seekers, either within the EU or outside its borders?

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As already stated, the EU has brought forward a Green Paper. The latter does not relate to a common asylum system because discovering a resolution to this problem does not rest on any one issue. The EU is leading the world in the context of the delivery of aid to Africa in particular. Despite some reservations we might have regarding the attendance of President Mugabe at the proposed EU-Africa summit, that is one of the reasons we are in favour of engaging with Africa. As far as I am concerned, it is better to hold a meeting at which we can discuss the entire range of issues — including those relating to economics and climate change — which affect people in sub-Saharan Africa in particular.

The type of overseas development aid we deliver to Africa will be useless unless we can in some way embed good governance systems in countries that are open to them. If, as already stated, we provide the opportunities and a level of security, people will remain in their own countries. A range of responses is required to stem the flow of people from Africa into the EU.

I am not aware of any specific measures relating to holding centres. It might be better if the Deputy raised this matter with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform who has primary responsibility in that area.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I accept there are various problems and issues that arise in respect of people seeking asylum. On one hand, the European Union, through its Foreign Ministers, is engaging with Africa and trying to develop good governance, while, on the other, a Commissioner representing it at the WTO talks removed from African countries preferential access to the Union in respect of goods and commodities. Is there not a contradiction in terms here and should there not be a more all-encompassing approach at EU level in respect of trade and governance to the effect that they should go hand in hand?

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As much as possible, that is what we try to do. However, in the context of the WTO negotiations, particular member states have their own strategic national interests. The European market is probably the largest recipient of African trade — a matter about which people do not often sing from the rooftops — and is probably the most open to such trade. As already stated, myriad responses are required and not least among them are those which relate to overseas development aid. The EU has led the way in that it has indicated that the entire Union will reach the 0.7% target by 2015. Ireland has led the charge at that level in that we are going to achieve the target of 0.7% by 2012.