“Rubber stamp” politics leaving Ireland at mercy of EU dictats on migration, says senator

Senator Micheal McDowell has accused the government of engaging in “rubber stamp” politics in relation to the EU Migration Pact which is currently moving through the Oireachtas, after the Government pushed the legislation through to committee stage without the customary debate in both chambers at what is generally called “second stage”.

This is significant because once the legislation passes committee stage, no new amendments may be made to it other than those proposed at the committee. 

Speaking in the Seanad yesterday McDowell said that he protested “most strongly” to the manner in which the Migration Pact which he described as “a constitutional level change to our laws” was being “rubber stamped” by the government.

He said the likely approval of the pact would “surrender to Europe, complete competence in relation to asylum seeking, migration and the like.”

He slammed what he called a “half day session” which is to take place at four o’clock next Tuesday saying the committee reviewing the pact would only receive “one contribution from the minister by way of a briefing and members will be enabled to ask her questions.”

 “[T]hat’s the end of the matter. That’s the full discussion that is envisaged.” he quipped. 

McDowell continued that this was a “disgrace” saying he would bring it to the attention of the media adding that the “the people of Ireland are entitled that their parliament would not delegate to a committee.”

“I protest most strongly about what’s happening. It’s wrong.” he said, adding “We are turning this parliament into a rubber stamp assembly.” 

Senator Micheal McDowell speaks up for the vast majority of Ireland and demands a debate on the ludicrous migration pact. This is insanity 🤯
pic.twitter.com/9i2mrUdETw

— TheLiberal.ie (@TheLiberal_ie) April 16, 2024

Independent TD Mattie McGrath accused the government of trying to “silence debate” on the pact. 

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy McGrath criticized the government for deliberately blocking a Dáil debate on the EU Migration and Asylum Pact, labeling the action as a “scandalous attempt to silence debate” on a critical issue.

“It is a scandal that the government, with the facilitated support of ‘so-called’ independent TDs, have moved to silence Dáil debate of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact in the Dail today,” he said.

McGrath pointed to the absence of certain independents during the vote, particularly Michael Lowry, saying “If those independent TDs had voted against the government’s deliberate blocking of the debate, we could have had an open Dail debate and even a vote which could have resulted in defeating the unwelcome migration pact this week.”

“Ireland, alongside Denmark, retains the legal right to opt-out of EU immigration policies – a right affirmed by the Irish people in the Lisbon referendum. Ignoring this mandate and bypassing a national debate is  disregarding the will of the people.” he said. 

Addressing the consequences of the pact on Ireland, McGrath stated that “The EU would force us to take in a certain number of asylum seekers or to pay a monetary contribution of at least €20,000 to the EU.” 

Predicting a significant increase in the number of asylum seekers over the coming years he said that these financial penalties would have a skewed effect on  Ireland due to its GDP and the activities of the FDI sector. 

Condemning the lack of debate over the Migration Pact as a “scandal” he accused the government of being “afraid to listen to the voice of the people or the views of communities across this country.”