merrion street

European Home Affairs Ministers met in Brussels yesterday to discuss a range of topics concerning Member States. Minister Shatter, in his role as Ireland’s representative on the Justice and Home Affairs Council, was in attendance. Ministers discussed among other topics, the report prepared by the European Commission on ‘Issues Related to the Free Movement of Persons’.

Contributing to the discussion, Minister Shatter said:

“Free Movement is a core value of the EU, and arguably the one most prized by its citizens. That said, where there are issues of concern, it is important that they can be discussed openly and frankly. Rather than comment in detail on the report, I wish to focus on a couple of points.”

“The report notes that Ireland is one of the countries with the highest level of welfare access by other EU nationals. This is not surprising given the large scale movement of EU workers to Ireland over a number of years, which was followed by a severe economic recession and, in particular, the collapse of our construction industry in which they were heavily represented.”

“Many EU nationals in Ireland who have been in receipt of Social Welfare following our own fiscal and economic difficulties, previously through their employment made a substantial contribution to our economy and contributed to our Social Welfare fund. Many of those who became unemployed left to obtain employment elsewhere or have subsequently been re-employed in Ireland. I believe that when addressing this issue, not only at meetings such as this but elsewhere, we should take care to ensure that what we say is fact based and that we do not inflame public opinion and create misunderstandings that could detrimentally impact on citizens of EU States who are resident in a State that is not their own.”

“In relation to marriages of convenience, I would ask the Commission to ensure that the handbook does what the Member States need it to do, in terms of helping to tackle what remains a significant issue of considerable sensitivity and complexity. It should be seen in conjunction with the other measures set out in the EU action on Migratory Pressures. I believe a broader engagement on this issue is required.”

“The report notes the presence of criminal involvement in respect of marriages of convenience and we need to take a robust approach in dealing with the issue. The fact that free movement is such a core value should serve to reinforce rather than inhibit our efforts. We should ensure that it is not misused and abused to the benefit of non EU nationals in the context of young people being seduced by criminal gangs into fictional marriages for short term financial gain.”

“This is in the interests of EU citizens as a whole and not just those whose financial situation may make them vulnerable to approaches from marriage-brokers and those who seek to circumvent our laws.”