President Higgins says EU Commission must reflect on approach to mass migration

By Cillian Sherlock, PA

The new European Commission must reflect on its approach to mass migration, the President has said.

Michael D Higgins said it was “common sense” that the health service in Ireland would not run without migrant workers.

Noting his own family’s history of emigration, the President added: “We should be able to have a sensitivity (to migration).”

Asked about the responsibilities Ireland holds with regard to mass migration around the world, he said work should begin on food security before moving towards education opportunities, and then on to areas such as gender equality.

Mr Higgins, who studied migration theory at Manchester University, added: “But what is striking about Europeans speaking about migration, they are talking only about the point of destination.”

The 83-year-old said “there are positive ways” to approach migration through an understanding of the causes of migration.

Mr Higgins said: “What I find quite shocking about it is this raises questions that – now that we’re electing a new EU Commission they surely must reflect on – is of what kind of Europe do they speak?

“Is it a Europe that is just going to shift its focus to armament production? Going to massively expand defence expenditure? Increase barriers to people coming in?

“I think common sense should teach us Irish very practical things. We wouldn’t be able to run the health service we have in Ireland today without the people who have come and enabled it to function.

“I have been in hospital myself but anyone who knows that when they’re there being cared for how much we owe to the people who are interested in providing care.

“That’s just how it is.”

Mr Higgins further criticised poor levels of research into the factors driving mass migration in the world today.

“It fills me with horror because here you are striking deals with people that don’t have any commitment to human rights.”

In addition, he said some countries that have made the least contribution to climate change “are now paying the highest cost”.

Referencing a speech he gave at the National Ploughing Championships on Tuesday, Mr Higgins said 3.3 billion people live in countries that spend more on debt servicing than on health and education.

He added: “That will only change when the United Nations changes. When will that happen? My own belief is that it will happen under African, Latin-American and Asian influence much faster than European influence.”