Yesterday, the EU parliament approved the new policy, which will see greater member state collaboration and faster approval times on migrant applications.
“I think this is a real game changer, because it means that as a country firstly, we’re not dealing with this on our own,” Helen McEntee told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland.
“We do have a structure in place at the moment, but there’s elements of that that don’t work and as the number of people who come to Europe to seek solace, to seek protection but also those who are economic migrants, we need to have a system that’s connected, that’s collaborative, and that deals with the large numbers.”
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – April 11th
Part of the new policy will see a greater sharing of information between EU states, on those who arrive at their borders seeking asylum.
“What we’ll have is greater gathering of information for anybody who comes to the first country that they land in,” Ms McEntee said.
Ms McEntee said the new system will mean Ireland will have a greater understanding of who is coming to the country.
“We’ll have a clearer picture of who’s there, who’s coming but also if there are risks, if there are people coming who pose a risk as well, and we’re talking about a small fraction, but we will have access to that, a greater and enhanced system,” the minister said.
The EU pact will mean those countries who sign up will commit to faster processing times, with some applicants receiving a decision within two months.
“For people who cross our borders but don’t have documents, where they get rid of documents, where they might pose a risk or where they are from a country where the acceptance rate is less than 20pc, they will be processed, their applications, their appeals absolutely everything in two months,” Ms McEntee said.
Ms McEntee said that half of those who come to Ireland to seek protection have already been given protection in another country.
The minister said that signing up to the pact will make it easier for Ireland to have those individuals returned to the first country they were given protection in.
“If we don’t opt into this our ability to say ‘you must return to the country that you’ve been given protection’, it doesn’t exist,” Ms McEntee said.
“We can’t expect other member states to take back people to their country if we say we’re not going to join, we’re not going to show solidarity, we’re going to go it alone, we’re going to do it on your own. So it’s really important.”
As Ireland continues to struggle to find enough accommodation for asylum seekers, Ms McEntee said that the new pact will make funding available for accommodating those arriving at Ireland’s borders.
“We’re going to be given financial assistance. So if we don’t opt into this, we don’t have access to the billions of euros that will be made available to help us improve our systems for faster processing and to house and accommodate and support people in general,” the minister said.
Last November, the UK’s Supreme Court ruled that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s controversial Rwanda bill, which would see asylum seekers to the UK deported to the country, was unlawful.
Ms McEntee said there was no plan for a similar policy to be implemented as part of the pact and was not something she would sign up for.
“When it comes to Rwanda, that’s not what we’re talking about here and that’s not a proposal that I would support to be quite frank,” Ms McEntee said.
The new pact will see the introduction of fingerprinting children over the age of six, which Ms McEntee said will ensure children are not being used for human trafficking.
Speculation in the lead up to Taoiseach Simon Harris announcing his new cabinet included questions on whether Ms McEntee would be kept as Minister for Justice.
When asked if Frances Fitzgerald had spoken to the Taoiseach about keeping her in her current position, Ms McEntee said Mr Harris was clear that he wanted her to continue in the portfolio.
“I have no idea what conversations Frances Fitzgerald to be honest had with anybody. I know the conversations I’ve had with Simon with the Taoiseach and he’s been very clear that he wanted me to continue the work that I’m doing in this department. I made no secret of the fact that I really wanted to stay,” Ms McEntee said.
