Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Ireland was better than Operation Sophia because we saved 17,000 lives when we were operating bilaterally with our own ship. When we joined Operation Sophia that figure was reduced but there was still search and rescue carried out.

All of this relates to a European directive so it is not us on our own. It is exactly as was said on the question of prosecutions and of a chilling effect. All of those are not simply speaking to what might happen in Ireland but also to how this directive and law is being interpreted across Europe. That is why we are pressing for the best, most thoughtful and most careful interpretation in the protection of humanitarian action and human rights. This is not simply about our own actions because I hope this kind of interpretation will enable the Minister of State and his colleagues, when engaging with their European peers at the Council of Ministers and elsewhere, to advocate for proper respect for humanitarian action. This is an example for us to provide a positive and constructive template. I hope the Minister of State will take these amendments on board and press these points further in situations where we have seen aggressive prosecutions of humanitarian NGOs.