Government's failure to act responsibly towards migrants must be resolved

At European level, there is little for those of us that work in the area of refugee and migrant support to feel hopeful about. We must not let it sink down to that level in our own country, writes Doras CEO John Lannon

Migrants arrive at the village of Skala Sikaminias, on the Greek island of Lesvos, after crossing on a dinghy the Aegean sea from Turkey in March 2020. Harmful narratives on migration are increasingly permeating mainstream political discourse. File photo: AP/Michael Varaklas

After almost a decade of negotiations, the EU finally agreed on an asylum and migration pact that it claims will enable it to better manage migration. The proposed common migration system will, it says, be grounded in its core values. 

However, there are real risks that the migration pact will lead to reduced protection for people, increased suffering for those fleeing war, and more rights violations across the EU.