McManus hits out at Walsh over comments on Sinn Féin's migration policies

Sinn Féin MEP for the Midlands North-West constituency Chris McManus has hit out at comments by Fine Gael MEP Maria Walsh on his party's migration policies.

Yesterday, MEP Walsh said Sinn Féin's Eurosceptic colours came to the fore once again as they failed to support the EU’s landmark migration policy and used language last heard during the UK Brexit debate.

However, McManus took exception to the content of Walsh's statement and said her comments were “a blatant attempt to distract from Fine Gael’s appalling record on health, housing and their failure to stand up for Ireland in the EU.”

In a statement to The Mayo News, McManus said: “It is clear that her party is out of touch, out of ideas and out of time. Time and time again Fine Gael MEPs have failed to stand up for Ireland’s interests, instead choosing to engage in spin rather than delivering change for the people they represent. Walsh attempts to distract from Fine Gael failures won’t fool voters.”

The EU Pact on Migration and Asylum was passed by the European Parliament this week. All five Fine Gael MEPs voted in favour of all policies within the Pact, while Sinn Féin failed to vote for the majority of policies.
McManus explained why his party had taken this stance: “The majority of the measures in this Pact were not in Ireland’s best interests, which was why I voted to oppose them. Sinn Féin believe that Ireland needs a well-managed migration system – one that is fair, efficient and enforced.
“I believe that it should 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. A one size fits all approach across the EU would not work.

“Sinn Féin 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.”