Mattie McGrath: Pause the EU Migration and Asylum Pact
Mattie McGrath urges a pause on the enactment of the European Union Migration and Asylum Pact and accuses others of spreading deliberate misinformation about recent immigration legislation. He recounts his attempts to secure a debate, highlights the passage of the International Protection Act, and warns of public anger and confusion.
Appeal to pause the Pact
Mattie McGrath addresses the Dail to repeat his call for a pause on the EU Migration and Asylum Pact after a motion he brought earlier was voted down. He says he and independent colleagues sought a debate for almost two years and asks the government to listen to the people rather than patronise them.
Legislation already passed
Taoiseach reminds the House that the International Protection Act was passed by 86 votes to 62 and has been signed by the President. He stresses the bill went through all stages of parliamentary scrutiny and is now commencing into law, countering claims that it has not been properly approved.
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I appealed to you just a couple of days ago to the enactment of the European Union Migration and Asylum Pact. We had a motion and I tried for several years on the Business Committee to get a debate here, for almost two years, and Deputy Councillor Nolan and myself and our independent colleagues brought forward a motion here, a May Day call actually, the 1st of May 2024, which your government voted down. And I appeal to you now to have a pause here and to try and listen to the people and please give the people advice here and don't be patronising like you were to Deputy Paul Lawless. This vote was passed here on the 26th of June, June 26th by only 79 votes to 72, a mere 7, sorry 24. That was before we have nearly 40 new TDs here. And the public anger out there, and we all condemn the savage attacks in Belfast and the savage attacks that have been ongoing in this country, and you don't turn a blind eye to them, you try to demonise people. Taoiseach, to respond now, Deputy. Taoiseach, please. Deputy, your time is up, you're penalising everybody else, Taoiseach. This is parliamentary democracy. By 86 votes to 62, the International Protection Act was passed in this House. It has been signed by the President. Why are people inventing and deliberately misinforming people? That's what's going on here. This law has been debated in this House at length. It has been passed by this House. People have different perspectives, people are entitled to have different perspectives. It was passed here, it has been signed, it's coming into law, that's all. This is a new development now, TDs are coming in here saying, oh it only got won by this and won by that, we must have another debate. Despite the fact the legislation went through all stages, like this is misinformation. And let's call it out now, Deputy. All last week it was going on emails, going into everyone's email accounts and so on, about a terrible day is going to happen on Friday when legislation was debated here at length was commenced. Legislation has commenced all of the time, and that's all that's happening. And by the way, it gives us control.
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