It’s important to ‘call out’ the use of words like ‘sovereignty’ and ‘we must protect our borders’, a Fine Gael MEP has said.
Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh – who is running in the North-West constituency in the upcoming European elections in June – made the comments during an interview with BreakingNews.ie this week.
Referring to Sinn Féin’s opposition to the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, Walsh said that Sinn Fein’s rhetoric was “right out of the Trump playbook,” adding that she didn’t think Ireland would reach this point.
“Using words like ‘sovereignty’ and ‘we must protect our borders’ – that language was used in Brexit,” she said.
“It’s right out of the Brexit playbook, right out of the Trump playbook. I didn’t think as a country we would get to this point, but we’re here.
“We need to call it out, and be practical and rational to the fact we cannot afford to follow the lines of Brexit or, in fact, where the opposition want us to go.”
Defending the EU asylum pact, she added: “We can’t afford to continue to have this conversation given the fact there are multiple wars going on in the world, climate and famine atrocities, particularly in Africa, potential civil unrest again in South Africa.
“So we have movement of people, and we have an obligation to do what we have been trying to do…but not in solidarity to this point.”
The interview was retweeted by Fine Gael Senator and MEP candidate Regina Doherty.
MEP labels Sinn Féin comments on migration pact out of 'Trump playbook' https://t.co/752A6CGh4g via @breakingnewsie
— Regina Doherty (@ReginaDo) April 20, 2024
Walsh’s comments echo those of Green Party Minister Catherine Martin recently, who said that using words like “open borders” and “sovereignty” was “dangerous” and “feeding into a far-right narrative.”
Talking about “sovereignty” and "open borders" is “dangerous language” that feeds into a “far-right narrative”, according to Green Party Minister Catherine Martin. pic.twitter.com/iOhcZ4vdL9
— Ben Scallan 🇮🇪 (@Ben_Scallan) April 15, 2024