EU Agreements

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2015

Tuesday, 24 February 2015

Questions (512)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

512. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on evidence that European Union countries have been found guilty of committing push-back offences for asylum seekers entering the European Union in areas such as the Greek-Turkish border and the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Mililla in Morocco blatantly showing no regard for European Union law and legislation by transporting asylum seekers back to the destination they set out from without processing the refugees-migrants as asylum seekers in the country in which they land, as is the European Union Directive; and if he will voice his concerns at European Union level. [8242/15]

Written answers

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade

This is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality, whose Department advises my officials that if an EU Member State is not meeting its obligations in relation to EU law, while this would be a concern for Ireland and other Member States, it would ultimately be a matter for the European Commission to address.