Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together.

I am committed to ensuring that Ireland’s International Protection system is robust and rules based, and that our borders are protected.

The EU Asylum and Migration Pact will significantly reform the current approach to migration and asylum both in Ireland and across the EU by providing a robust legislative framework to address the challenges faced in this area.

EU migration is a shared European challenge that requires shared European solutions. In order to address the migratory challenges in a truly European manner, it is necessary that EU institutions, EU agencies and the Member States all do their part. The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum sets out a comprehensive new approach to migration bringing together policy in the areas of migration, asylum, integration and border management.

Ireland was at the centre of negotiating this pact and worked hard with all other Member States over eight years to agree the comprehensive approach in the Pact.

Political agreement between the two co-legislators at EU level was achieved in December 2023, and the European Parliament passed all elements of the Pact on 10 April. It is expected the Pact will be fully adopted very soon and in the next couple of weeks, becoming fully applicable across the EU after two years. The European Commission has started to work with Member States on the implementation of the Pact and a Common Implementation Plan is expected to be finalised by June 2024.

In an Irish context the Pact represents a permanent structural solution to the challenges around migration. Migration as a phenomenon is in essence a transnational issue. The reality is that no country can deal with the challenges of migration alone, and the need for cooperation and coordination with countries of origin, transit and neighbouring countries is ever growing. It is for this reason that Ireland has participated in the Common European Asylum System since the beginning. We are already part of the Common European asylum system, and the Pact is a reform of the Common European Asylum system.

The overall objectives of the Pact is to create a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure in ordinary times as well as in times of migratory pressure and crisis situations. It will ensure a fair sharing of responsibility, developing robust and fair management of external borders and providing stronger governance of asylum and migration policies.