Sharon Keogan warns of 'cash for sovereignty' in EU opt-ins
Sharon Keogan addressed the House about Ireland's opt-in to the International Security Fund and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) for 2028–2034, urging members to vote against both opt-ins. She argued the measures amount to trading Irish sovereignty for conditional EU funding and called for opt-outs and demands for rebates.
Motion and position
Sharon Keogan told the House she had been asked to rubber stamp Ireland's opt-in to two major EU programmes, the International Security Fund and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund for 2028-2034, and urged a vote against the first two motions. She said she did not oppose approval of an opt-in to a justice programme nor to negotiations with the Republic of Korea, but framed the Internal Security Fund and AMIF as a dangerous trade-off.
Sovereignty concerns
Keogan described the opt-ins as "cash for sovereignty" and warned that opting in to AMIF would bind Ireland to the EU Migration Pact - a mandatory solidarity mechanism under which Brussels would decide relocation rules. She highlighted the penalty for refusal, saying Ireland would either take relocated migrants or pay €20,000 per head for refusing.
International comparisons
The speaker contrasted Ireland's stance with other member states, citing Poland and Donald Tusk's refusal to accept a migration pact that forces relocations, and noting that the Netherlands and 14 other countries had sought tougher rules and external processing. She argued Ireland was simply nodding along while others pushed back.
Security funding and neutrality
Keogan acknowledged that the Internal Security Fund would bring money for cyber security and Garda resources but said the funding comes with conditions that tie Ireland into EU security strategies and operational frameworks. She warned this could be a slippery slope from data sharing and infrastructure protection to deeper integration into EU security and defence policy, raising questions about Irish neutrality.
Proposed alternatives and consequences
She urged the government to opt out of the migration pact, demand rebates for opt-ins and opt-outs at the next Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations, and negotiate a fairer deal given that Ireland is, she said, a net contributor to the EU budget. Keogan called on the House to stop trading sovereignty for short-term cash and to use Ireland's position to secure a better outcome for the country.
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Alaska here, like a minister, you're very welcome into the House again. I have to say, you're probably the most active Minister for Justice we've seen over the last five years since I've been elected in here. And I want to wish you well, always, in the work that you do, because I think you play a very major role in how our society is going forward. So we've been asked today to rubber stamp Ireland's opt-in to two major EU programmes, the International Security Fund and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund for the period of 2028 to 2034. On the surface, these sound sensible. There's money on the table. Who wouldn't want extra funding for our underfunded security infrastructure or for migration and border control infrastructure? But let's call it what it is, cash for sovereignty. Every time we sign up to these schemes, we are not just taking money, we are handing over control. Opting in to the AMIF means binding ourselves to the EU Migration Pact, which is a mandatory solidarity mechanism. That means Brussels decides the rules. And Ireland either takes relocated migrants or pays €20,000 per head for refusing. Is that sovereignty? Or is that a check with strings attached? Look at Poland. Donald Tusk had said clearly, Poland will not implement any migration pact that forces it to accept migrants. That's a sovereign stance. The Netherlands and 14 other countries have signed letters demanding tougher rules and external processing. They are pushing back. Meanwhile, Ireland, we nod along, sign up and hope for a few crumbs from the EU table. And let's talk about the Internal Security Fund. Yes, opting in means more money for cyber security and for Garda resources. But again, it's our own money coming back with conditions. And those conditions matter to the Irish people. They tie Ireland into the EU security strategies and the operational frameworks. That's a slippery slope for a country that values neutrality. Today, it's data sharing and infrastructure protection. Tomorrow, it could be a deeper integration into EU security and defence policy. We need to ask, where does this end? Are we comfortable with Brussels shaping our policy priorities and, by extension, our security posture? Yes, we might find some funding in the short term if we opt out. We might lose some funding. But Ireland is a net contributor to the EU budget. We pay more in than we get out. Opting in doesn't change that. It just means we pay in and then beg for some of our own money back, with conditions attached. If we are serious about sovereignty, we should opt out of the migration pact entirely and stop this precedent of surrendering control for cash. Instead of meekly signing up, the government should be throwing its weight around Brussels, demand a rebate for opt-ins, demand a rebate for opt-outs at the next MFF negotiations. Other countries have rebates. And we should, too, be negotiating a better deal for what we pay in and setting a precedent that Ireland will defend its sovereignty. For clarity, I do not oppose the approval of the opt-ins to a justice programme, nor to negotiations with the Republic of Korea. But I am calling on this House to vote against the first two motions, the Internal Security Fund and the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund, because these represent a dangerous trade-off. Sovereignty for short-term cash. This is about principle. Do we want to govern ourselves or do we want to be governed by press releases from Brussels? I say stop trading sovereignty for short-term cash. Opt out, stand firm and start using Ireland's position to get a fairer deal for all our people. Thank you.
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