“The Dáil, not the EU, should set our migration rules” - Mayo TD slams EU Migration Pact
Paul Lawless TD says newly elected Dáil should have a say on agreement’s impact on migration, sovereignty and public services
Mayo TD Paul Lawless has called on the Government to allow the Dáil to vote on the EU Migration Pact before it comes into effect at the end of this month, arguing that the newly elected parliament should have the opportunity to reconsider the measure.
Speaking earlier today, Deputy Lawless said the pact, which was passed by the previous Dáil in 2024 by a narrow margin, could have significant implications for Ireland and should be revisited.
“The EU migration pact is set to come into effect at the end of this month,” he said. This pact was voted on and passed by the last Dáil in 2024, of which I was not a member, by a tiny margin.”
The Aontú TD argued that the agreement should ideally be put to the public through a referendum but maintained that, at a minimum, the current Dáil should be given the opportunity to debate and vote on the matter before implementation.
“In the interests of democracy, and given the margin in the last vote was a mere seven votes, I think the newly elected Dáil should be offered a chance to vote on this issue,” he said, adding that a number of TDs who supported the pact in 2024 are no longer members of the Oireachtas.
Deputy Lawless also raised concerns about the potential implications of the pact for Ireland’s migration system, public services and financial obligations.
The Mayo TD claimed the agreement could affect how many migrants Ireland may be required to accept or contribute funding towards, and criticised what he described as uncertainty around the possible costs to the State.
“I think the Dáil, not the EU, should set our migration rules. The pact infringes on our sovereignty,” he said.
He also expressed concern that Ireland’s economic profile could lead to disproportionate expectations on migrant intake without sufficient regard for pressures on housing, healthcare and other services.
Deputy Lawless further referenced other EU obligations, including climate and environmental commitments, arguing that member states should have greater flexibility and less exposure to penalties.
“The new Dáil, and newly elected TDs should be allowed to vote on this pact, before it comes into effect at the end of the month,” he concluded.