Sinn Féin MEP candidates have questions to answer on migration policy u-turns – Doherty

Sinn Féin MEP candidates must account for their constant flip-flopping on migration policy if they intend to represent Irish interests in Europe, a Fine Gael Senator has said.

Senator Regina Doherty, Fine Gael’s candidate for the European Elections in Dublin, said the constant shifting of position on migration and asylum issues by Sinn Féin representatives demonstrate that they cannot be trusted to represent Ireland in the European Parliament.

Senator Doherty said: “We should by now be used to Sinn Féin performing u-turns on a range of issues such as climate action, housing and justice, but their latest rhetoric on migration is nothing short of alarming.

“In the last EU term, Sinn Fein’s then four MEPS which include current candidate Lynn Boylan and Deputy Matt Carthy, signed up to guidelines adopted by GUE/NGL , the  left-wing political group of the European Parliament, which called for an opening of safe and legal access for migrants and asylum-seekers, including resettlement for asylum-seekers

“It also called for an increase in the sharing of reception of asylum-seekers and refugees between member states, including through relocation programmes that take fully into account family, language and cultural ties, adequate funding and reception conditions for open reception centres, and closing down detention centres.

“Now we have Sinn Féin adopting an increasingly hardline stance on migration and choosing to oppose realistic progress to score cheap political shots.

“Earlier this month Sinn Féin MEP Chris MacManus was the only Irish MEP to vote against the Union Resettlement Framework under the EU Asylum and Migration Pact, which has been widely welcomed as offering hope to refugees.

“This is the same individual who in 2021 called for a more ambitious resettlement programme for the people of Afghanistan, despite voting against a similar EU wide scheme this year.

“MEP hopeful Lynn Boylan has also remained uncharacteristically silent on where she stands on the EU’s Asylum and Migration Pact. Her party colleagues here claimed the vast majority of proposals contained in the pact are ‘not in Ireland’s interests’ with Sinn Féin are opposed to open borders.’

“Is Sinn Féin now saying they favour hard borders, including on the island of Ireland?

“At the start of this Parliamentary term, Sinn Fein’s position under then MEP Matt Carthy was to oppose Eurodac – the European database that stores the fingerprints of international protection applicants.

“Earlier this month we had the party do another u-turn by supporting Eurodac’s extension, saying it is ‘necessary’.

“Sinn Fein MEPs’ EU record versus the most recent votes and public statements paint two very different pictures when it comes to their stance on migration. The next few weeks the European elections in June provide an opportune time for these candidates to clarify their position such an important policy issue.”