In 2021, the European Union emphasised that it had “never forced Ireland to take refugees or immigrants,” and stressed that the Irish government had “voluntarily” decided to participate in “resettlement schemes” during previous migrant crisis situations.
The announcement was made as part of a “fact sheet” on the EU’s website, europa.eu, on February 28th 2021, roughly 2 years ago.
“Ireland voluntarily agreed to fully participate in the EU relocation and resettlement schemes set up in response to the migrant crisis that peaked in 2015,” the page reads.
“The EU has never forced Ireland to take in refugees or immigrants.”
The article went further, adding that Ireland in fact has “no obligation” to take refugees at all under the Lisbon Treaty.
“In fact, Ireland has no obligation to take in refugees as, along with Denmark, it has an opt-in or opt-out clause on justice and immigration measures under the Lisbon Treaty,” the piece reads.
“However, Ireland voluntarily agreed to fully participate in the EU relocation and resettlement schemes set up in response to the migrant crisis that peaked in 2015…Ireland voluntarily agreed to fully participate in the EU relocation and resettlement schemes by accepting up to 4,000 migrants.”
As Ireland experiences an unprecedented surge in asylum claims, numerous government officials, including Integration Minister Roderic O’Gorman, have insisted that Ireland has an “international obligation” to accept the numbers arriving.
"Why wasn't this done for homeless Irish citizens?" Gript asks Integration Minister Roderic O'Gorman about his government's rapid rollout of accommodation for asylum seekers in areas like East Wall. pic.twitter.com/4MbaMFyQQs
— gript (@griptmedia) November 24, 2022
Notably, Ireland is signed up to certain international conventions and clauses at the UN level regarding refugee policy, such as the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol, which do outline certain national responsibilities regarding the handling of asylum claims.
Earlier this year, the UK government proposed a bill that would deny the right to claim asylum to those who arrive “irregularly” into the country, such as those crossing the English Channel in boats from mainland Europe. Under the proposed law, individuals arriving in this way would be automatically detained and summarily deported without having their individual case examined.
However, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has already said that this bill would violate UN conventions.
“This would be a clear breach of the Refugee Convention,” the UNHCR said, adding that under the 1951 Refugee Convention, asylum seekers’ cases must be considered even if they enter the country through irregular channels.
A proposed new #UK asylum bill has led to uproar over impartiality and #FreedomOfSpeech at the BBC this weekend. The UN @Refugees agency says if it's enacted the bill would be in 'clear breach' of international lawhttps://t.co/9xuCB3Y79i
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) March 11, 2023
However, while Article 31 of the Convention recognises that refugees may enter a country without authorisation or proper documentation, it only allows for this provided the asylum seeker in question presents themselves without delay to authorities and can provide a good reason for why they entered the country illegally.
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