[Vincent Browne] The tragedy in the Mediterranean Sea should remind us that Mairead McGuinness and her fellow FG MEPs voted against a European Parliament seeking further resources to rescue people in the Med. Ms McGuinness wants to be Irish President.

17 comments

1. What’s the solution Vincent

2. [deleted]

3. In all honesty the problem here is that they’re coming here to begin with and there’s already too many in the Mediterranean countries as it is, even here were strained as it is due to the whole housing farce. Not to be cold hearted but the only way to stop them coming by sea and risking their lives is to make it unviable to begin with by deporting them all back to where they came from and/or considering all asylum claims null and void due to attempting illegal entry.

   If they’re rescued they get medical attention but are not entitled to remain and must return to either their point of origin or their home country. It would also mean they’d have to change the laws around Asylum to basically make all claims null and void if the applicant entered via illegal means or with false documentation, that alone would likely make it a much bigger deterrence because alot of attempts to reach Europe are to claim asylum so they cant be kicked out. There’d be no point in trying if the attempt meant automatic deportation without appeal. Regardless the current situation can’t continue either as it’s causing more domestic strife across the EU on the issue.

4. Not our problem

5. You used to be cool Vincent

6. [removed]

7. The EPP have become so much better on border security this parliament.

   Vincent’s solution would simply aid human traffickers. Far more people drowned when we tried his approach back in 2014-16.

8. It’s a tricky situation.

   The humane thing would be to save them.

   However, once you save them, under international law you have to take them to Europe, and then they can immediately claim asylum so you can’t send them back. Which would ultimately mean more people making these dangerous journeys and more people dying.

   Unless we just let everyone into Europe, but that’s simply not sustainable. Especially since many of these people are coming from countries where their cultures and values are simply incompatible with modern Western European values such as women’s rights and LGBTQ rights.

9. Current or increased migration is unsustainable. Fleeing dire economic circumstances in one’s country is understandable, but it is not the same as fleeing persecution or war. The original purpose of asylum has been completely undermined by years of exploitation. I think most will agree that levels of migration into Europe that we are seeing is unsustainable. It’s not going to ease in the future either.

   Something has to be done. I’m not sure if there’s an answer to this problem that’s humane.

   Maybe change the acceptance of asylum applications so that it’s only acceptable if done in a legit entry port? An aggressive campaign against traffickers? Sanctions against countries that use asylum seekers as political pawns? Swifter deportations when applications fail?

   None of these are nice options and the entire situation reminds me of how lucky we were at birth to be born here.

10. Should be using the navy and air forces of the eu to blow up the people smuggling boats before they can be used

11. Can anyone tell me what Fine Gael has done to help with this situation since they voted against stepping up search and rescue missions for refugee/asylum seeker/migrant boats?

    Because we were assured by them and their supporters that they would help the situation, but I can’t find anything.

12. Reuters article reporting
    Kassam Abozeed, who lives in Germany, said he last heard from his wife Israa eight days ago. She had paid $4,500 (4,124 euros) to travel on the boat, the 34-year-old said, showing a photograph of her on his phone.

    I hope she’s found and safe but this will continue to happen when people are paying 4 to 5k to cross water. They’re not societies poorest that’s for sure

13. I do miss Vincent ripping the shit out of Irish politicians.

14. Things need to improve in their home countries or they will keep trying to get someplace better.

    Just like history shows

15. I’m hoping it’s just the internet and brigading by so-called patriots but it’s honestly depressing reading the heartless and disgusting anti-immigrant sentiment in the Ireland sub over the last few years.

    By all means, blame the government for its failings in housing, health and other services over decades in this supposedly wealthy country. They should be held accountable. But don’t fall for the blame the foreigner BS. And stop with the mental gymnastics that allow you to switch off your humanity.

    Any time I hear someone complain about refugees (but economic migrants I hear you rage) I can bet they’ve never even met a refugee. It’s a bit like racists who will complain about Muslims or black people. Bet they’ve never met either. Because if they did meet someone from whatever background and they turned out to be…guess what…another person with many similarities to them, their whole flimsy belief that’s devoid of empathy collapses.

    I realise this will be downvoted by the very people that this addresses but so be it.

16. We are having some of the same issues in Canada, families have drowned in the St Lawrence River, and froze on the Prairies, it’s so easy to fly into Canada, they just claim refugee status, without proof, and we just let them in, but then they just head South into the USA. It’s becoming a huge issue here. Canada’s population hit 40 million yesterday.

17. Her line manager VonderLeyen is EPP too. There’s a fortress Europe vibe to it. The EPP sidle up to the extreme right wing such as AfD (Germany) to protect their vote and they don’t care who has to die.