Results 461-480 of 2,787 for speaker:Marian Harkin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: I thank the Taoiseach. He spoke of people wanting to work, study and live in the regions and of winning hearts and minds. What he needs to do is build houses. Stop talking about hearts and minds or community centres here and there, although the latter are welcome and great to see. I am talking about the big-ticket items, and the Taoiseach knows that. I am talking about systemic...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: Build houses.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: They are not in Sligo.

Support for Carers: Motion [Private Members] (24 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: First, I wish the Minister of State, Deputy Higgins, well in her new role. I thank the Regional Group for bringing forward this motion, which calls on the Government to abolish the carer's allowance means test and establish a high-level working group to do the groundwork in preparing for the delivery of a non-means-tested participation income for family carers. I have lost count of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: I thank the Minister. She said that over 80% of those applying for asylum come across the Border. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: That means the major issue is not with secondary movements. The Minister tells us we are going to reduce them, but the major issue is not secondary movements from the EU. The significant issue is people coming across the Border. Am I correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: It is obviously not working because of the court judgment. What were the numbers like previous to the court judgment? What percentage were sent back or what was the situation?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: Perhaps the Minister will get those. My other question refers to the idea of sovereignty. I do not believe what we are doing here is unconstitutional because I canvassed twice for the Lisbon treaty and it was clear that it gave us the opportunity to opt in or stay out if we wanted to. I think one of the reasons people voted for the Lisbon treaty was that we had that opt-out. If we are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: By opting in we are ceding sovereignty.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: Yes, we are choosing to cede it. That is an important point. I am not saying it is good or bad, but I am saying it is the situation. The Minister keeps telling us that this is positive for Ireland and it will be reduce secondary movements. I am happy to accept that, but it will not reduce asylum seekers or asylum beneficiaries. Those numbers will probably increase, so the overall...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: Why? It does not bear any resemblance to the reality.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: That is not what we are talking about here.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: We are talking about numbers in legislation that in no way reflect the reality on the ground. I just do not understand that. I have only a few seconds remaining but I will come back. The Minister commented several times that Ireland would be more attractive to asylum seekers if it did not opt in. I find that hard to believe. Denmark, which has a much tougher asylum system than we have,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: It is not that it is not opting in but that it cannot opt in.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: The question is why Denmark is not more attractive. If not joining makes us more attractive, why is Denmark not more attractive?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: Yet it operates under EU rules.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: It does.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: That is still the EU.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: I understand that, but it still operates within the EU treaties.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: EU Regulations and Directive on International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Discussion (23 Apr 2024)

Marian Harkin: I want to come back to the issue of sovereignty and constitutionality. As I said, I believe what the Minister is doing is constitutional - we voted for it - but I disagree with the point made that we are not ceding a certain amount of sovereignty. Going back to those treaties, specifically the Lisbon treaty, the option was there to opt in, but the Minister may remember also that we have an...