Most Irish MEPs have either voted no or abstained on two key votes in the European Parliament on proposals to curb migration – with Fianna Fáil MEPs abstaining despite supportive signals from the Minister for Justice.
Sinn Féin, Labour, Independents and one Fine Gael MEP voted no, while Fianna Fáil and Independent Ireland MEPs abstained.
Today, the European Parliament adopted changes to the EU asylum procedure regulations to allow faster processing of asylum requests.
The move, supported by a majority of MEPs, will create a common European Union list of safe countries of origin to which asylum seekers can be returned and their claims rejected.
With 408 MEPs in favour, 184 against and 60 abstentions, it endorsed the creation of a new EU list of safe countries of origin; it will now become EU law if approved and formally adopted by the Council of the EU.
If it gets final approval, the law will see the EU produce a list of safe countries, with asylum seekers from those countries –Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, Kosovo, India, Morocco and Tunisia – to have their applications fast-tracked. People will no longer be able to seek asylum to the European Union from the countries listed.
MEPs also approved the deal on the regulation on application of the safe third country concept, with 396 in favour, 226 against and 30 abstentions.
Regarding the vote to agree to an EU-wide list of ‘safe countries,’ Sinn Féin’s Lynn Boylan and Kathleen Funchion, Independent Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, Labour’s Aodhán Ó Riordáin and Fine Gael’s Maria Walsh all voted against the change to enable faster processing of asylum requests.
Meanwhile, all of Fianna Fáil’s four MEPs – Billy Kelleher, Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, Barry Andrews and Barry Cowen – all abstained, alongside Ciaran Mullooly of Independent Ireland.
Independent MEP Michael McNamara was not in attendance and did not vote on. either measure; he is currently in Bangladesh as part of an EU delegation to south Asia.
Among Ireland’s 14 MEPs, three Fine Gael MEPs supported the safe countries measure – Regina Doherty, Nina Carberry and Seán Kelly.
A second vote took place to create a “third parties” country system, whereby any nation external to the bloc where an EU immigration hub could be enacted in the future, would also be listed as a “safe country” aside from in specific and individual personal circumstances.
It passed by 396 votes in favour to 226 against. Three Irish MEPs voted in favour – Regina Doherty, Nina Carberry and Seán Kelly (all Fine Gael).
Mr Mullooly again abstained, whilst Ms Walsh, Mr Kelleher, Ms Ní Mhurchí, Mr Cowen, Mr Andrews, Mr Ó Riordáin, Ms Boylan, Ms Funchion and Mr Flanagan all voted against the measure.
FF AT ODDS WITH MINISTER
In a meeting with European officials at the Justice and Home Affairs Council in December, Fianna Fail Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan seemed to indicate his support for both of the measures that Fianna Fail’s MEPs no longer support.
In a press release, the Department of Justice said that EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministers had reached “an agreed position” on a new common European return system for migrants staying in the EU unlawfully, as well as a measure to establish a list of safe countries of origin art Union level, and a proposal to update the reasons for determining a country to be a safe third country.
Mr O’Callaghan said he “reaffirmed” Ireland’s commitment to “support EU efforts to adopt and implement a common and effective European system for returning people with no legal permission to be in the EU.”
He said at the time that Ireland had “long recognised the value of introducing a strong and efficient common returns system for those with no legal right to remain in the EU.” He said the adoption of a common position on what that system should look like brought European leaders “a significant step closer to adopting it.”
“Having a strong, collective approach to returns will send a clear signal to third country nationals that a return decision issued in any Member State cannot be evaded and will be enforced,” added O’Callaghan in a statement after the meeting.