Ireland is expected to contribute money to support Mediterranean countries such as Greece and Italy during migration surges, rather than accepting extra migrants. This is part of the European Union’s new Migration Pact, which allows member states to offer either funding or relocation.
EU justice ministers will discuss the pact in Brussels, where they aim to update Europe’s migration rules. The plan includes faster border checks, stronger security and health screenings, and new ways to return people whose asylum applications are rejected.
EU member states are also considering setting up migration processing centres outside the Union to handle deportations. Ireland has said it is looking at whether such a system could work for its own needs.
The European Commission now considers Ireland to be under migration pressure due to the lack of accommodation for new arrivals. Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan recently confirmed that more than 1,600 asylum seekers received no State housing between May and October.
