Deputy Mary Lou McDonald- speech from 18 Jun 2024

The Government is wrong to adopt the EU migration pact. The fact that Government did not even consider, it seems, exercising Ireland's opt-out from any element of the pact is shocking. Migration is a challenging issue. I believe that we must, of course, respect international law, cooperate with other states, but ultimately migration policy must be set by an Irish government elected by the Irish people. We must retain the flexibility which we currently have. Only by retaining the powers to make our own decisions on migration will we have a rules-based system that is properly managed and fair, that applies common sense and common decency, and that recognises the unique challenges which Ireland faces. The reality of the common travel area with Britain has not been calculated or considered at all by Government, it seems. Retaining the powers to make decisions in Ireland, standing up for Irish sovereignty, is a key principle in a healthy relationship with the European Union. It informs our position regarding retention of powers in Ireland on taxation, on foreign affairs and defence, and on migration. In each of these cases, powers should remain with the Irish Government. The world is, as has been said, experiencing an ever increasing rate of instability and volatility. And this plays a major factor in how the issue of migration manifests itself in the here and now. Putin's criminal invasion of Ukraine has seen the largest displacement of people in Europe since the Second World War, dramatically increasing the number of people seeking refuge across the EU. The impact of climate change, persecution, war, famine, natural disaster, see people flee the Global South for their lives, and run the gauntlet of conflict, boiling hot deserts, human traffickers, sexual violence and extortion. Thousands have drowned in the Mediterranean Sea, attempting to make it to Europe in search of safety and sanctuary. And this human catastrophe is born of global inequality and injustice that has persisted for generations. An inequality rooted in Western colonialism and its devastating legacy of exploitation of resources, structural disadvantage, construction of divisions that fuel conflict, civil war and the failure of the West to address these injustices. Becoming a refugee is a desperate act of survival. Those seeking refuge in Ireland must be treated with respect and dignity, their human rights fully vindicated. A fully resourced, efficient immigration system is central to vindicating those rights. A transparent system of rules, rules which are enforced, is at the heart of protecting the vulnerable and ensuring a system that works and that enjoys public confidence and public support. Truth is that Government has failed to plan to resource a functioning immigration system, and that failure belongs to this Government alone. Just as Government failure to provide homes, medical care, childcare and so many other basic essentials to our citizens also rests with you, the Government. Those who would seize on Government failure to whip up fear, tension and division are wrong. They want to punch down instead of up. To blame the immigrant for everything and the Government for nothing, it seems. The reality is that the Government's approach has been utterly shambolic. A chaotic mess, evidenced best by the tent cities that sprung up on Mound Street and along the banks of the Grand Canal here in Dublin. And it is therefore no surprise that people wonder, is anyone competent in charge? Government has caused a scenario of division and tension within communities. It has caused ordinary people, who have no truck with bigotry or racism, but who are concerned to feel isolated and unheard for fear of being branded a racist should they open their mouths. That is wrong. The lack of proper community consultation from Government has been a disaster. And you should take responsibility for it on the Government's benches. You have served to fan the flames of distrust and tension. And just as you correctly call out the far-right or the hard-right or those who seek to weaponise resource shortages against vulnerable people, that should be called out. But your responsibility for this mess has to be named and identified also. The increasing number of people seeking asylum places an onus on every Government, including yours, to plan and resource an immigration system that is fit for purpose and that safeguards social cohesion as well. And that has not happened. And now, by opting into the EU Pact, you will compound your failure and shirk your leadership and your responsibility. You propose to hand responsibility and power for Ireland's immigration policies over to Brussels, lock, stock and barrel. Signing up to this pact in its entirety ties the hands of future Irish Governments to set common-sense policies that are best for Ireland. These decisions are best taken here in Ireland. Agreeing to this pact represents a dangerous erosion of Irish sovereignty. I am an Irish Republican. I lead an Irish Republican Party. I believe passionately in the principles of equality and inclusion. I despise every form of bigotry, of sectarianism, racism, exclusion and discrimination. For our part, our commitment to equality includes tackling wealth inequality, standing up for working-class communities, for ordinary people and families, for carers, for investing in communities that have been failed and ignored by successive Governments. This is the lens through which I, as an Irish Republican, view everything, including migration. It must be for an Irish Government to decide key aspects of our immigration policy. That is how we best achieve an immigration system that is fair, efficient and enforced. An immigration system that protects the human rights of applicants and safely returns those who are not granted status here. A system that upholds the functioning of the nation for all who call Ireland home. A system that ensures fairness, decency, common sense and the protection of human rights. And that also commands public support and public confidence.