Government hiding behind EU Migration Pact as excuse for failures – Matt Carthy TD

Speaking as the Minister for Justice today seeks Cabinet approval for legislation to give effect to the decision to sign up the EU migration pact, Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Matt Carthy TD, said that the government was far too slow to sort out the mess in the international protection system.

He accused the government of using the legislation required for the EU Migration Pact as an excuse for inaction.

Teachta Carthy said:

“The government would have us believe that they needed to sign up to the EU Migration Pact in order to sort out delays and enforcement in our international protection system. This is simply not the case.

“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.

“Our migration and international protection system is a mess. Decisions are taking too long. Appeals are taking too long. Deportations are not enforced. There is massive profiteering from the provision of inappropriate IPAS accommodation. Sorting these issues has nothing to do with the EU Migration Pact.

“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. The recent deportation flight to Georgia was simply a propaganda exercise to cover for dysfunction across the system, particularly when it comes to enforcement.

“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, because we need cooperation in information sharing and the return of those not entitled to be in Ireland.

“The EU Migration Pact will have far-reaching consequences, including for Irish sovereignty, and it is crucial that the Oireachtas is given the opportunity to scrutinise the detail of both the implementation plan submitted by the government as well as having adequate time to scrutinise the proposed legislation which the Minister is seeking Cabinet approval for today.

“Ireland needs a system that is fit for purpose international protection system – a system that works in a timely manner and enforces decisions. That means those entitled to be here are processed quickly and integrated as part of our communities and country. It means that those not entitled to be here are processed quickly and deportations are enforced.”