A COUNTY Limerick politician has described as “a thunderous disgrace” the ruling to transfer Ireland’s immigration policy decision-making power from Dublin to Brussels.
Last week the Dáil voted by 79 votes to 72 to opt into the controversial EU Migration and Asylum Pact for a standardised immigration control system across the 27 member states.
Measures include enhanced screening and security checks and faster processing of asylum applications, as well as a greater focus on efficient returns for unsuccessful applicants.
Limerick Independent Ireland TD Richard O’Donoghue believes this will now have significant implications for local communities, national interest, and taxpayers.
“Scandalously handing over the power and authority to make immigration decisions to Brussels is a thunderous disgrace,” Deputy O’Donoghue hit out.
“To give away this power without any judicial scrutiny or consideration of the constitutional implications will go down in history. It will be seen as the biggest betrayal of the Irish people by any serving government.”
The Government, he continued, has now moved to “open the floodgates to allow unlimited numbers of asylum seekers to arrive here”.
Deputy O’Donoghue also suggested that Ireland’s border security will now be greatly compromised and made insecure at the whim of unelected bureaucrats in Brussels.
“The approval of this pact means the imposition of an increasing number of asylum seekers on communities across Ireland each year or compels taxpayers to pay an annual fee of €20,000 for each person denied entry. The decision to opt into such an agreement is utterly irrational as it transfers the authority of immigration decision-making from Dublin,” he claimed.
“Our borders have now become the soft touch of Europe for illegal immigrants at a time when stricter border controls are urgently necessary.
“This Government seems to believe that Ireland can somehow delusionally accommodate unlimited numbers of asylum seekers when, in the real world, this is a very dangerous path to go down.”
