Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

We have local and national indigenous problems with migration. Creating such a radical overhaul of legislation based on orders from Brussels cannot work well on this issue. It is simply too complex. Ireland should co-operate with Brussels on sensible migration policy. However, NGOs such as Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, the Irish Refugee Council and Nasc: Migrants and Refugee Rights all oppose this pact, which suggests this is not the way to co-operate with EU or neighbouring countries.

The Government parties are the only ones prepared to ignore the wishes of the Irish people who want to see the Irish national interest put before the so-called international obligations. As of today, 19 June, there are 10,100 IP applications. There were 4,100 Ukrainian temporary applications this year. We are heading to 30,000 this year. You only have to look out the window in this Chamber to see that this Government is failing. You only have to look at the tents across from Merrion Square to know it is chaos the Government is creating.

Denmark, our EU neighbour, will not be part of this pact and has many positive approaches we could implement at national level. These include measures such as mandatory residence in designated centres for asylum seekers and strict eligibility criteria for family reunification. Instead of granting long-term or permanent residence permits, Denmark often issues temporary permits which are periodically reviewed and can be revoked if conditions in the home country improve. Applicants for Danish citizenship or residency must meet rigorous integration requirements, including language proficiency and employment criteria. Regardless of whichever party Irish voters opted for in the recent European and local elections, Irish migration policy for the next decade is quietly being decided. We will not be able to reverse this decision.

As Members of this House well know, the purpose of this pact is to centralise power at the EU level under the guise of providing the bloc with a minimum set of standards to manage the asylum crisis that is only set to deteriorate in the coming years. Under the terms of the pact, Ireland will be allotted a set number of asylum seekers to subsidise, or indeed house, dependent on our total GDP, a figure that colleagues will admit fluctuates violently per annum due to the influence of foreign direct investment. Contrary to the rhetoric from the Fine Gael press office, the migration pact is in fact rushed legislation that is badly suited to Ireland and is only crossing the legislative finish line due to the political need for it to be approved before the sitting of the next European Parliament and the prospect of more populist MEPs.

Bringing in uncapped numbers of low-skilled and even no-skilled workers, and people with no language skills does not add to us as a nation.It gives the illusion that the economy is growing, but it is spreading the cost base more finely, causing a service strain and continuing to compound the housing supply crisis. Social welfare programmes, healthcare, housing and other supports are badly needed. We can only expect higher public spending, more cuts in services and, ultimately, higher taxes for those of us who contribute to the Exchequer.

Uncapped migration makes it harder for low-skilled workers to earn a living wage. More workers means more demand on services, thus limiting the spending power of these economic migrants who will in substandard earning and living conditions. This is the perfect condition for people to turn to crime to make the best of a tough situation in a country as a new arrival in the asylum system.

Stop robbing the Irish people of their right to discuss border protection and to criticise decades of Government mismanagement. Stop robbing the Irish people of democracy. Start listening to the polls and to the people. This will be the legacy of this Fine Gael Government. It will be forever known as the Administration of failed migration policies and wilful disregard for people's concerns relating to this issue. That ultimately result in more crime, unsafety and uncertainty for the prosperity and well-being of our society.