Government opts in to EU Migration Pact after Dáil vote
Justice Minister Helen McEntee, Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos
The government has voted to opt into the EU Migration and Asylum Pact with a vote of 79 to 72.
The vote took place in the Dáil on Wednesday evening after it was delayed after a rare government intervention last week.
The Justice Minister welcomed the vote saying that it is the "best way forward" for Ireland and Europe to deal with migration issues together.
Helen McEntee said it will result in "faster processing of applications, stronger border security and faster returns".
The pact provides for a mechanism that allows countries to either make a financial contribution or agree to relocate asylum seekers to other EU states.
The controversial pact was debated in the Dáil for five hours last week and further arguments were heard on Wednesday.
Sinn Féin had criticised the Government's approach of signing up to all seven legs of the pact calling it an "erosion" of Irish sovereignty.
While Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy criticised the lack of details provided on the various regulations involved.
The pact has been under negotiation at EU level since 2016 and Wednesday's vote marks the first time Ireland's law on asylum and migration management will be fully aligned with the EU.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin once again abstained from voting on the renewal of the Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009.
These motions provide for the extension of the Special Criminal Court for a further year.
The court has been in operation on an emergency basis for more than 50 years. It previously primarily focused on dealing with terrorism offences.
However, in recent years it has shifted to dealing with organised crime prosecutions.
Sinn Féin’s justice spokesperson Pa Daly was critical of the Government’s failure to act on a recent review, saying the existing Special Criminal Court provisions were “outdated” and required improvements.
