The Irish Refugee Council (IRC) has voiced concern over the government’s agreement to participate in a fresh EU immigration arrangement, scheduled to be operative from 2026. The IRC has alluded to diminished safeguards, elevated instances of detention and increased destitution amongst those pursuing refuge.
Speaking at an Oireachtas Justice Committee on Tuesday, IRC’s chief executive, Nick Henderson, stressed that people landing devoid of official documentation or those crossing borders unlawfully are particularly vulnerable to detention. The IRC mentioned this would mainly affect applicants from nations with elevated refugee claims, which includes Afghanistan and Somalia. These individuals usually have no other means but to journey without formal documents or replacement documents.
In March, the government gave the green light to a plan of opting in to the EU’s Refuge and Migration Pact protocols. This is set to modify how asylum seekers are managed, including a tonal shift towards faster returns for unsuccessful applications and swift processing for those hailing from safe countries or those devoid of documents or counterfeit papers.
Over 160 organisations across the continent, consisting of global human rights organisations like Amnesty and Human Rights Watch, have voiced worry about the pact’s provisions.
Edel McGinley, the director of the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (MRCI), implored the government not to succumb to individuals causing distractions, inciting fear, and spreading detrimental mistruths about those who are deemed different due to their country of origin.
David Leonard, a barrister, highlighted that neither side was completely satisfied with the pact, indicating that this could be a sign of a less than flawless consensus achieved via compromise. In contrast, Fiona Hurley, the chief executive of NASC, argued that the required 12-week duration to finish applications and make appeal and removal decisions could be exceedingly taxing and might lead to hurried and insufficient evaluations.
Nuala Egan, the head of the Legal Aid Board, has acknowledged that the surge in applications for international protection is a challenge, because the Board’s budget does not flex with demand. “The state funding has grown over the last few years, but so has the spectrum of services that the Board provides, and indeed the volume of its clients”, she expressed.
Concurrently, a coalition of countryside Independent TDs have argued that the populace should decide on the migration pact through a referendum. They have prepared a motion to be discussed in the Dáil on Wednesday, demanding the Government reveal the Attorney General’s counsel on the Pact, and a standalone assessment of the fiscal pressure on the State of choosing to participate.
The motion also implores the Government to pledge to “a transparent, even-handed, nationwide discourse on the implications of the Pact” and “the issue of the need for a public plebiscite”.
Announcing the motion about the pact on behalf of the Rural Independents, Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath announced that TDs within the group hope for an “tough yet equitable, stringent, migration policy here that provides those seeking refuge a justified chance to present their case”. “And if they originate from a safe nation or if they don’t fit the requirements, they should be repatriated to their home nation as promptly as possible, in a suitable manner.”
He voiced worry that the pact signifies a ceding of power to Brussels and the potential costs to the State could escalate due to the actions it encompasses. TD Michael Collins of Cork South-West concurred that a referendum is justified, stating, “The citizens should have their voice heard. This pact is causing great alarm to the residents of this country.”
When asked if their motion might stir up anti-immigrant feelings, Kerry TD Michael Healy-Rae responded to say that, many “perfectly reputable people” he encounters while on the campaign trail during local elections, “are querying our immigration policy and the Government’s approach to handling arrivals into the country.”
He took issue with such individuals being “lumped together” with a person who might disrespect a Garda at an anti-immigration rally. Mr Healy-Rae concluded, “You cannot equate these two individuals. Thus, there are extremes.”
Limerick County’s MP, Richard O’Donoghue, affirmed: “I am certainly in favour of tranquil demonstrations. We take a dim view of individuals who inflict harm on others’ belongings.”