Sinn Féin MEP for Midlands/North West Chris MacManus has called on Irish MEPs to vote against measures contained in the EU’s Asylum and Migration Pact that are not in Ireland’s interests.’

He has said that Ireland can better create a fair, efficient and enforced immigration system by exercising its opt-out from a majority of the pact’s proposals; as Ireland is entitled to do under the EU treaties.

Speaking today, Chris MacManus said:

“Sinn Féin are opposed to open borders. We believe that Ireland needs a well-managed migration system – one that is fair, efficient and enforced.

“Our international protection system, in particular, is in need of a major overhaul.

“The EU’s Asylum and Migration Pact is a mixed bag of seven proposals. Alongside Denmark, we are the only country with the opportunity to remain outside all or some of these measures. We should use that ability to opt-out, as is our right.

“By voting against the vast majority of this Pact we are signalling that Ireland is better off outside it. We can create a fair, efficient and enforced immigration system without interference from Brussels.

“Ultimately, we must assert that many decisions are better taken locally and one size does not fit all. We want a system that recognises each Member State is different and faces different pressures at any given time.

“That can be done in a manner that balances human rights concerns with stringent enforcement of our rules.

“This is an important issue of sovereignty. It must be for an Irish government to decide on key aspects of our immigration system. These are not matters for the EU to dictate to us.

“There is a better way – an Irish system for the Irish reality driven by a rights based approach and reflecting the fact that war, climate change and poverty will always drive people to seek a better life.”