Alice-Mary Higgins (Independent) | Oireachtas source

My colleague, Senator Ruane, spoke about the case of Seán Binder, which is being heard today. These issues were debated in the past two weeks. Ireland stopped its bilateral search and rescue in the Mediterranean Sea. Then we joined Operation Sophia, which then stopped doing search and rescue. We warned that would happen because the then Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Paul Kehoe, had told us the priority would become security rather than humanitarian purposes. Those who =stepped into the breach to deliver on the human rights all of us are bound to uphold are now facing a massive wave of criminalisation. We warned that would happen. I am concerned that even in our smuggling legislation we have shifted the balance too far. While humanitarian reasons are a defence, there is no longer a clear exemption from prosecution.

We need to be honest about how our policies and European policies on migration are damaging the human rights record of Europe. The case of Seán Binder is one example. Another is what is happening on the borders of Poland. Whatever we think of Belarus and the House passed a motion opposing Belarus's actions just a couple of weeks ago, we have a responsibility, as the EU, to make sure the human rights of all those at our borders are protected. We cannot point a finger at others without stepping up. It is not enough that we are letting people die in the Mediterranean and on the border with Poland, and that we criminalise those who take action to fulfil what we would hope for. Europe needs to decide. We compromise on human rights in the immigration control agreements we have with Turkey where Omar Souleyman has been arrested. Europe has softened its cough on human rights breaches, even when they involve such global figures as this amazing musician because we have an immigration control deal with Turkey. We gave money to the former military regime in Sudan for its border police. When it was overthrown in a peaceful revolution we did not step up and provide support. These are really important issues. Europe must decide whether it is going to be a beacon or a fortress. I ask the Leader to arrange a debate on human rights and migration. This House has a record on human rights. Let us not turn our eyes away from the fact that they are being undermined in the interest of migration control.