Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 25:

In page 19, between lines 15 and 16, to insert the following: "Report on search and rescue operations

17.The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, lay a report before both Houses of the Oireachtas outlining the State’s record and current practice in respect of humanitarian search and rescue in the Mediterranean, including the number of individuals which the Irish Navy rescued in the years 2018 to 2020, future plans or strategies to restore and increase humanitarian search and rescue and proposed supports to non-governmental organisations.".

I have already outlined the issue to which this amendment relates, namely, our humanitarian obligations. It is appropriate that we have a review. The question of smuggling directly relates to this because smuggling is one of the issues addressed under the European directive. It relates directly to the Mediterranean. I have focused the majority of my comments today on the Mediterranean because it is a place with which Ireland has a relationship and where Irish ships and Irish humanitarian workers and NGOs have played a key role, a vocal role and, in some cases, quite an heroic role.

I would like if we could have a report looking at the State's record and its current practice in humanitarian search-and-rescue missions in the Mediterranean. We have gone from rescuing 8,500 people in one year to 1,888 in another and on to almost none at all. This was as a result of a policy and political shift. I recognise that the policy and political context is not entirely within our control, but it is a policy and political context in which we are engaging. It would be very appropriate if we had a report looking at humanitarian search and rescue, including of persons being smuggled in the Mediterranean.

I have quoted figures up to 2018. I do not have figures for the period 2018 to 2020. What are the future plans and strategies to restore and increase humanitarian search and rescue in the Mediterranean? If it is not the case that the Irish Naval Service is in a position to do so or that our European partners are willing to do so by means of a successor to Operation Sophia, what steps will the State take to support civil society interests, NGOs and international humanitarian organisations so they can continue the work of humanitarian search and rescue? People will still be setting out into the Mediterranean. They will still be vulnerable and they will sometimes be trafficked and smuggled. We cannot simply turn a blind eye or wait for cases to arrive before our courts. We need to have political and policy responses in this regard. I hope the Minister of State will be able to engage on this matter.