The Government has been slammed for scheduling a Motion for next Tuesday without debate to refer to Committee the proposal to opt into measures of the EU Asylum and Migration Pact.
The controversial Pact received initial approval from EU legislators earlier this week.
Reacting to the Government proposal, Independent TD for Laois Offaly Carol Nolan has said she will object to the Motion and insist on a full Dáil debate prior to referral to the Oireachtas Justice Committee.
🚨Next Tues the Government is proposing a motion without debate for 1 minute from3:04-3:05pm. The motion is a referral to Committee on the proposal to opt into the EU Asylum& Migration pact. I and my colleague Deputy Mattie McGrath will be demanding a full debate.
— Carol Nolan TD (@CNolanOffaly) April 12, 2024
Speaking to Gript, Deputy Nolan said:
“This is a Pact that will have generational significance and it will fundamentally undermine our sovereign capacity to shape and dictate our own immigration policy.”
“To insist that it go to Committee prior to a full Dáil debate is simply not acceptable in these circumstances. I understand that there is a normal procedure for these matters and that technically the Government may be within its rights to put forward this Motion, but this is not a normal pact and this is not just another issue that can be sent to Committee without the full and robust engagement of the entire Dáil happening first.”
I and my colleague, Mattie McGrath, Leader of the Rural Independent Group, will vigorously oppose this Motion and insist that the Pact is debated prior to its referral to Committee.”
“We need to hear, on the record where exactly the other opposition party’s and groups stand on this. It should not be relegated to Committee before the Irish public know precisely where they stand. Sending it back to us after the issues has been subjected to limited Committee debate is just on,” concluded Deputy Nolan.