Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the establishment of transit and processing centres for migrants and asylum seekers outside the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25035/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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In recent years, a number of new approaches have been suggested for the processing of mixed flows of migrants and asylum seekers that wish to enter the EU. These proposals include the establishment of transit and processing centres outside of the EU.

While there may be good reasons for these proposed centres, such as the provision of better levels of protection than are currently available and the harmonisation of asylum processing, such proposals raise many practical concerns and legal questions. These include issues such as who would be responsible for the running of the centres; who would they cater for; how would refugee status be determined; what happens after refugee status has been determined. Ireland has no plans to establish any migrant or asylum processing centres outside the State.