The Dáil has begun hearing a motion to approve new European Union measures on international protection, asylum and migration.
Taoiseach Simon Harris opened the debate by saying the Irish people wanted migration to be handled with compassion and common sense.
He reassured the public that “there is a strong cross-Government response to migration, and to the increased number of people seeking international protection”.
But Mr Harris warned that, “Over the course of this debate, you may well hear many claims that have little regard to fact.
“There’s no implantation of men in Ireland and Ireland, most certainly Ireland is not full.”
He condemned “myths”, which are “designed to sow division. They’re designed to spread fear”, and that can spill over into violence, as happened in Dublin.
Mr Harris said that the Migration Pact is “essential” and is “a united effort of Europe”, adding that the bloc is currently too “divided and too fragmented” on the issue.
The Dáil debate will take place over the course of more than eight hours today and tomorrow.
The Government announced in March that it would be opting into the pact, which will introduce legally-binding processing times and is intended to improve the asylum processes across the EU.
If approved, the EU Asylum and Migration Pact would require the Government to substantially increase the number of staff who are processing asylum applications, deliver new processing and accommodation centres, enhance border security, increase the collection of fingerprints, and photograph those arriving into the State.
Fingerprints would be uploaded to the Eurodac database that documents international protection applicants, or those who have crossed a border illegally.
However, the pact has provoked controversy, with critics claiming that it is heavy-handed.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has revealed that the Government is seeking tenders for charter flights to deport people who no longer have permission to remain in the State – which is another measure included in the pact.
“As a nation of migrants, Irish people know the benefits that inward migration can bring,” Mr Harris told the Dáil.
“We know, because we were them.”
“Communities have often been pitted against migrants when, in truth, we need a much more managed response and sufficient services,” he said.
“And I think this is the key thing, not to try to divide communities versus migrants, but actually putting more sustainable systems in place.”
