Concerns voiced about EU Migration and Asylum Pact in Letterkenny
Concerns were raised about the pact, which effectively outsources decision-making powers to the European Union on Ireland’s migration policy
A fuel protestor highlighted the EU Migration and Asylum Pact and its implications for Ireland at the Sinn Féin cost-of-living public meeting in Letterkenny.
Another man in attendance stated that: “We will not have enough houses for the number of people that will come into Ireland. They only built 35,000 houses last year; it would need to be about 50,000.”
The Migration and Asylum Pact is an agreement between EU member states on the rules of asylum and migration, which must be implemented by June 12.
According to the EU, the aim of the pact is to secure external borders, create fast and efficient procedures, have an effective system of solidarity and responsibility and embed migration in international partnerships.
Sinn Féin stands firm that the EU Migration Pact is not in Ireland’s interests, citing concerns for Irish sovereignty as decisions on migration will be outsourced to the EU.
Sinn Féin’s Deputy Dáil Leader and Finance Spokesperson, Pearse Doherty TD said: “We were the only party to oppose the EU Migration and Asylum Pact. I passionately believe it is the Irish people, our country, that should decide our own migration policies, not Europe. It is wrong for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to hand over powers to the European Union in relation to Ireland’s migration.
“We were excluded from that pact, and the government put forward a vote for the state to opt in to it, despite Sinn Féin’s opposition. A couple of weeks ago, it was enshrined in law through the International Protection Bill.”
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme