Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Senator rightly said, this is an extremely complex issue. Libya needs a functioning coastguard to protect its coasts and rescue people in danger at sea. It is absolutely unacceptable that those who are supposed to be working with and supporting these migrants might not be doing so. I call on the Libyan coastguard and authorities to ensure they adhere to international law at all times and where there are violations of human rights that these are addressed. We must ensure that there is oversight of the detention centres. There is some oversight at present but it needs to be greatly expanded and significant improvements are required given the financial supports and assistance we are providing. All parties, including those with de factocontrol of the territory, also have responsibility to ensure we adhere to international laws at all times. We need to ensure they take responsibility for trying to eliminate the ill treatment of migrants at all times and to facilitate access by the United Nations and other humanitarian organisations to the detention centres in order that we can reach the people who need support. I assure the Senator again that we are doing everything to ensure the financial support we provide gets to the people who need it. Our naval vessels and missions are operating in the most humane manner. They are protecting and rescuing people at sea, not returning them to the Libyan coastguard.

Ireland has always opted in when it comes to taking in migrants. We have not been mandated to do so but where there have been issues with particular vessels not being allowed to dock or migrants not being allowed to disembark, we have taken in many of the migrants affected. We have always worked with other member states and will continue to do so, whether it is specifically with navy vessels or otherwise.