TDs continue to sharply criticise the EU Migration and Asylum Pact ahead of the implementation date this Friday – while a petition seeking a referendum or an opt-out on the deal has almost reached 14,000 signatures.
Independent TD Carol Nolan today criticised the Government for ceding vital national control over immigration and asylum policy.
“From this week, Ireland’s ability to make its own decisions on asylum processing, border controls and migrant relocation will be significantly weakened,” she said.
“Indeed, the Government’s decision to opt into this Pact effectively means key powers have been permanently transferred to Brussels, leaving future Irish governments with far less flexibility to respond to our country’s specific needs. It will be a knockout punch to Irish sovereignty delivered up on a platter by successive governments which should have been fighting our corner,” she added.
And the Offaly TD said: “In May 2024, I brought forward the then Rural Independent Group’s Private Members’ Motion opposing the Pact. I warned that this agreement would undermine Irish sovereignty and that the interests of the Irish people must be placed first. I specifically highlighted the serious democratic deficit in how the Government was rushing this through with minimal scrutiny. I described the narrow vote to proceed as ‘the crack through which chaos will enter,’ and I stand over those remarks. Without national sovereignty on these issues, a loss of control and chaos will follow.”
Deputy Nolan pointed to the immediate changes starting this week, including reduced national control over immigration policy at a time when housing, healthcare and services are already under severe pressure:
“The Irish people were never consulted on this major transfer of power. Instead, the government has bound the hands of future governments and exposed Irish communities to decisions made by EU committees. This is a serious mistake that will have lasting consequences for our country,” Deputy Nolan said.
Last week, Aontú Deputy Paul Lawless called on the government to put the EU Migration Pact to a new vote in the Dáil.
He said that the migration pact was passed by the last Dáil in 2024 by “a tiny margin” – and that the Dáil’s mandate has changed.
“It could have huge ramifications for the country, and we in Aontú have always been of the view that it should be put to the people by way of referendum,” he said.
And Independent Ireland’s Ken O’Flynn said that he had received thousands of emails to his office regarding the Migration Pact.
“My office has received an extraordinary volume of correspondence on the EU Migration & Asylum Pact,” he said. “People are asking serious questions about democratic accountability, sovereignty and public consultation. I’ve heard those concerns.”
“I’m seeking answers from the Government on what Ireland has signed up to, what it will cost and what powers remain in Irish hands,” he said.
He pointed to the housing crisis, and the effect of immigration on same, as reasons to support sovereignty regarding migration policy.
Meanwhile a petition which seeks either an Opt-Out to the Migration Pact or a referendum on same has reached almost 14,000 signatures.
The petition says that the penalties for failing to take in a mandated number of migrants under the Pact could amount to hundreds of millions of euro – and that the deal hands over control to “unelected EU bureaucrats”.
It also called for “a real non-NGO lead debate by the People, on Ireland and its immigration and asylum system”.
But the government says it strongly supports the Pact with Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan saying in April: “This Bill represents a pivotal step in our implementation of a rules-based migration and asylum system in Ireland and across all EU member states.
“The Pact recognises that migration requires sharing responsibility, robust and fair management of external borders, and stronger governance of asylum and migration policies.
“It remains clear that migration is inherently a transnational issue. No country can deal with the challenges around migration alone.
“I am proud of the committed and collective work that has been done to get the Bill to this stage. I want to particularly thank officials in my Department, the Office of Parliamentary Council, and the Advisory Council in the Attorney General’s Office. I look forward to seeing the results that the Pact will yield.”