'Ireland is not full': Taoiseach hits out at 'myths' about EU Migration Pact

Taoiseach Simon Harris said that it is 'this hate that is poisoning our people across the country to believe that a migrant is the enemy'. Picture: Damien Storan/PA Wire

The Taoiseach has hit out at "divisive myths" about the EU Migration Pact.

The pact, which seeks to change how European countries manage the flow of asylum seekers into the European Union, was debated for five hours in the Dáil.

One of its key aims is to improve burden-sharing of asylum applications across the European Union, due to some EU member states receiving a disproportionate number of international protection applicants.

However, Simon Harris said that some opposed to it were guilty of "misinformation".

“Over the course of this debate, you may well hear many claims that have little regard to fact. So, let me be clear, there are no unvetted migrants in this country, there is no implantation of men in Ireland and Ireland is most certainly not full.

Crime does not increase in locations where asylum seekers are living. These are myths — but they’re worse than that — they’re more than myths, they are designed to sow division. They are designed to spread fear.

Mr Harris said that it is "this hate that is poisoning our people across the country to believe that a migrant is the enemy".

"It needs to be called out, because it is this radicalisation that has the potential to spin and spill into violence and it needs to end.”

He said that there should be a differentiation between those who have concerns and "far-right flag-waving patriots". He added that the pact was a necessary "united effort of Europe".

However, the Government was criticised for its "all or nothing" approach to the seven legs of the pact. Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald said that signing up to all seven was an "erosion" of Irish sovereignty.

"Standing up for Irish sovereignty is a key principle in a healthy relationship with the European Union," she said.

Labour's Ivana Bacik added that the plan does not contain "solidarity" with the global south. Independent TD Mattie McGrath accused the government of delaying the debate on the issue until after the local and European elections.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said that the current system is "not fit for purpose" and the pact is a chance to "further reform and improve the operation of the international protection system".

Under the pact, those who enter Ireland with no documents will be housed in designated facilities and have their applications dealt with in a matter of weeks.

The pact also features a new solidarity mechanism requiring countries to either make a financial contribution to or agree to relocate some asylum seekers from countries facing particular pressures.

It will also see the expansion of the categories of migrants who will be fingerprinted and checked against the Eurodac database when they arrive.