Clear that government Ministers do not know the full implications for Ireland of signing up to the EU Migration Pact – Matt Carthy TD
7 April 2025
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Matt Carthy TD, has said that reports of cabinet discussion on the EU Migration Pact show the government does not know the full implications for Ireland of signing up to the pact.
Deputy Carthy has called for the Oireachtas to be given the opportunity to scrutinise the implementation plan submitted by the government to the EU.
Teachta Carthy said:
“The government remains all over the place on migration. They signed up to the EU Migration Pact and are now trying to figure out what that actually means for Ireland.
“Minister Jim O’Callaghan is talking tough, but processing is still taking far too long and deportations are not being enforced for those who do not have a right to be here.
“Sinn Féin opposed the vast majority of measures contained within the EU’s Asylum and Migration Pact, because the majority of the Pact’s measures were not in Ireland’s interests. We supported opting into two measures contained in the Pact, namely the Asylum Migration Management Regulation and the Eurodac Regulation.
“Reports from the cabinet show that the Government does not know the full implications for Ireland of signing up to the EU Migration Pact, including important details regarding cost and numbers. The government has submitted an implementation plan for the Pact to the EU Commission but the Oireachtas has not yet been given the opportunity to scrutinise this.
“While fixing our migration system will have costs, including additional staff to process applications, investment in the new digital systems and the construction of state accommodation, these are necessary. Delays in processing have cost the state dearly and at the same time have made millionaires of those in the private sector profiteering from a broken system.
“The EU Migration Pact will have far reaching consequences, including for Irish sovereignty. It is crucial that the Oireachtas is given the opportunity to scrutinise the detail of the implementation plan submitted by the government as soon as possible.”
