PRESS RELEASE
Aontú submits its bill to remove Ireland from the EU Migration Pact, as Tóibín says all avenues must be exhausted to stop the process.
Leader Peadar Tóibín says: “There is still a chance to opt out. With this bill, we are calling on the Government at this late stage to do it.”
An Aontú petition against the pact drew 8,000 signatures overnight, showing strength of public opposition to this, he added.
Aontú has submitted its Withdrawal of the State from the Migration and Asylum Pact of the European Union Bill 2026.
Said Deputy Tóibín: “We have submitted a Bill to the Bills office in the Dáil today seeking for Ireland to be removed from the EU Migration Pact
“We are calling on the Government at this late stage to opt out of the EU Migration Pact.
“We have legal advice and are in contact with the Office of Parliamentary Legal Assistance and with the EU commission.
“We’re calling for the Government not to proceed. We believe there is still an opportunity to opt out.
“Ireland voted to opt into it in 2024, by a vote that was barely carried and was opposed all along the way by Aontú. The pact is due to come into effect on Friday
“So we have produced a bill, a piece of legislation we are submitting to the bills office today that if enacted would pull this country out of the EU Migration Pact
“The Pact is of significant threat to this country and it’s wrong. It should be opposed even at this late stage.
He said of the controversial pact: “It hands over key sovereignty and democratic rights from the Irish people to the EU, which often makes decisions in the national interests of larger countries and not smaller ones like Ireland.
“It hands the EU power to determine the numbers of people Ireland has to accept or face huge fines.
“It means the government is handing these powers away to faceless bureaucrats in Europe. This is a dangerous thing to happen For an Irish government to do that is unforgivable
There will be significant cost too – €20,000 for every individual that we don’t accept. We’re calling for the Government not to proceed. We believe there is still an opportunity to opt out.”
An Aontú petition against the Migration Pact – set up on Monday – received thousands of signatures overnight.
He added: “It shows the depth of feeling out there on this major issue set to impact Ireland when it comes in this week. Many people don’t want this to go ahead.”
The petition – that has almost 10,000 signatures after less than 24 hours – shows the public opposition to the pact, due to come on June 12.
