Results 101-120 of 1,052,442 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Tom Kitt OR speaker:Kieran O'Donnell OR speaker:Thomas Byrne OR speaker:Fergus O'Dowd)

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Matt Shanahan: We want to help people who are fleeing hunger, murder and tyranny, but wanting to do something and being properly prepared to do it are two different matters. This migration debate has caused huge division in the country and we have to stop thinking about it as one with a right or a wrong answer. One should never be criticised for saying we should stop, slow down or that we are not ready...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Carol Nolan: There are many people who see the adoption of this pact as the grave into which we are going to place our national sovereignty on the issue of asylum and migration. I agree with that view. In the fullness of time, we will be worse off socially, financially and politically because of it. Many also share the view, articulated some months ago by Senator McDowell, that what we are dealing with...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Coveney: I am very pleased to have the opportunity to speak on this debate on the EU migration and asylum pact. As we know, inward migration has become central to the political discourse and debate in Ireland particularly in last year. The truth is that strongly-held views on immigration are no longer only coming from people of one political persuasion. The discussion has become very much...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Paul Donnelly: It is clearly not in our interests to opt into all of the parts of the migrant pact that will unfortunately tie future Governments into this pact. Ireland can create a fair, efficient and enforced immigration system. I note that Ministers and Government Deputies all day said those same words. Fine Gael has been in power for 13 years and Fianna Fáil for the past five years. They have...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Catherine Connolly: Tá muid ag dul chuig Sinn Féin anois leis an Teachta Patricia Ryan.

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Patricia Ryan: For hundreds of years, Ireland's people have been immigrants, leaving our shores for other countries, both near and far, whether driven by famine, unemployment, as in previous years, or, more recently, because they cannot find or afford housing. These immigrants faced rules and regulations at their destinations because the countries in question put in place controls and requirements....

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Mick Barry: It is 35 years this November since the fall of the Berlin Wall. Where are we 35 years on? There are 1,800 km of walls and fences built or being built on Europe's borders, the equivalent of 12 Berlin Walls. In Hungary, the European Union helped to build a steel fence, ringed with barbed wire between the border of Hungary, Croatia and Serbia, giving €22 million in funding. In Poland,...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Catherine Connolly: The next slot is a Government slot. Does Deputy Coveney wish to speak?

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I welcome this debate. It is very important that the Oireachtas takes the time to discuss the migration issue generally but also the international protection system. It is also important that we give significant and appropriate time to discussion of the migration pact. I recognise the Minister, Deputy McEntee, for her work in this regard but also for making sure it has received significant...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Réada Cronin: I am opposed to a full opt-in to this pact because there are so many aspects of it that are not in Ireland's interests. The all-or-nothing approach taken by the Government is reckless, unnecessary and mystifying. Why did the Government not look at this pact and decide to opt out of what is not good for us? Why is it not the Government's automatic reaction to put Ireland's interests over...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Gary Gannon: I want to begin with a very simple premise: that is, that migrants have contributed hugely to our country, as we did when we went overseas and contributed to others. I think it is important to start there. Ireland would grind to a halt without the work of migrants who live here and have contributed both through their labour and their enhancement of our culture. They have powered our...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Fergus O'Dowd: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Molaim go bhfuil an díospóireacht ar siúl anocht agus measaim go bhfuil tuairimí éagsúla sa Dáil faoin gceist. Is é mo thuairim láidir, ámh, go bhfuil sé an-tábhachtach go mbeimis ag cabhrú leis na tíortha eile san Aontas Eorpach agus go mbeadh an dearcadh céanna...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Brendan Howlin: I am very glad to have the opportunity to speak on this truly important issue. I will make a few general points before I deal with the specifics in the proposal before the House. This is a fundamentally important set of proposals that seeks - I think in an honest way - to address an issue which is of deep concern to the majority of the Irish people. It merits, therefore, the kind of...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

John Brady: My colleagues in Sinn Féin and I will be voting against the EU pact on migration and asylum. We do not believe that opting into this pact is in the best interests of Ireland. From the outset, the Government's approach to the area of immigration has been absolutely shambolic. It has consistently been found wanting, invariably scrambling to catch up on events as they are developing....

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Violet-Anne Wynne: I welcome the opportunity to voice my views on the EU migration pact and will do my very best in my limited time as I have a lot to say on the matter. It is completely disingenuous of the Government to steamroll ahead with a single vote on this pact. There is no need for that, it has the public's back up and I take real issue with that. One point has been completely lost by the...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Richard Bruton: I will preface my remarks by stating what a remarkable institution the European Union is. It is unique. It was formed by statesmen determined that in future, difficult global problems would be resolved co-operatively and peacefully among the countries involved. For Ireland, membership of the European Union has been the gateway to take our place among the countries of the world, as Parnell...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Catherine Connolly: I listened to the Minister carefully. This Government has led a divisive campaign about refugees and asylum seekers. This has led to a situation where we have two tiers. The Ukrainians came in with full rights compared to those ensconced in direct provision. This Government has stood over direct provision, a system that was not fit for purpose, for over 24 years. There were numerous...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: That comment is below the Deputy.

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Catherine Connolly: I did not interrupt the Minister. What are we looking at here? The UN estimates that at the end of 2023, there were more than 117 million displaced people in the world. I understand the number has gone up to almost 120 million. What are we doing about that? What lens are we looking through to see what is happening in the world? What voice are we using? Are we using our voice as a...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Paschal Donohoe: I welcome the opportunity to speak on this very important debate in the Dáil, outline my views on the pact and why I am supporting it and respond to some of the claims I have heard about the pact during this debate. It is very easy, when discussing something that can be technical at times and involves the movement of many people, to lose sight of the human face of this issue and the...