Sharon Keogan: Calls EU opt-ins 'cash for sovereignty'
Sharon Keogan criticised Ireland's planned opt-in to the EU Internal Security Fund and the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) for 2028 to 2034, arguing they trade national sovereignty for conditional funding. She urged the house to vote against the two motions and to opt out of the migration pact.
Main argument
Keogan argued that accepting EU funding under AMIF and the Internal Security Fund is effectively "cash for sovereignty" - signing up to rules and mechanisms set in Brussels in exchange for conditional money. She said opting in binds Ireland to the EU migration pact and its mandatory solidarity mechanism.
Concerns over the migration pact and costs
She warned that the AMIF's mandatory solidarity mechanism could force relocation or trigger a penalty of 20 000 euro per head for refusing relocated migrants, describing this as a check with strings attached. Keogan said Ireland should consider whether it wants Brussels shaping migration policy and the conditions tied to funding.
Security fund and neutrality risks
On the Internal Security Fund she acknowledged potential funding for cyber security and Garda resources but said the money comes with conditions that tie Ireland into EU security strategies and operational frameworks. Keogan warned this could lead from data sharing and infrastructure protection to deeper integration into EU security and defence policy, posing questions for Ireland's neutrality.
International examples and political responses
She cited examples of other states resisting the pact, noting that Poland under Donald Tusk rejected any migration pact that forces acceptance of migrants and that the Netherlands and 14 other countries have signed letters calling for tougher rules and external processing. Keogan used these examples to contrast Ireland's willingness to "nod along" and sign up.
Alternative proposals and clarifications
Keogan called on the government to opt out, to demand a rebate at the next multiannual financial framework (MFF) negotiations, and to negotiate a fairer deal for what Ireland pays into the EU. She clarified that she did not oppose approval of opt-ins to a justice programme nor negotiations with the Republic of Korea, but maintained she would vote against the AMIF and Internal Security Fund motions as a matter of principle.
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here like a minister you're very welcome into the house again um 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 you play a very major role in how our society is going forward um so we've been asked today to rubber stamp ireland's opt-in to two major eu programs 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 its mandatory solidarity mechanism that means brussels decides the rules and ireland either takes relocated migrants or pays 20 000 euro 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 defense 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 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-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 program 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 into 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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