I wish to raise the issue of the EU migration pact. It is a highly controversial and complex issue. It took eight years for the EU to agree these proposals and yet only half a day has been set aside at the Joint Committee on Justice to hear them. If we compare that with the amount of time given to the controversy in RTÉ in two different committees, we can see the disparity. These proposals will have far-ranging impacts. We are talking about potentially thousands of people being held in detention centres on our borders simply for seeking refuge in Ireland. It is really important that the Oireachtas has the ability to robustly interrogate and discuss these issues, rather than having the migration pact simply nodded through in a committee and a subsequent vote. Does the Tánaiste believe a half day at a committee is sufficient? Does the Tánaiste know whether there will be one vote or multiple votes on the migration pact because this is not clear either?

It is very fundamental reform of European migration law and practice. There are legally binding timeframes for making decisions on international protection applications and appeals and a greater focus on efficient returns for unsuccessful applicants and accelerated processing, including for those from safe countries, those with no documents or false documents and those who have crossed borders illegally. It is, therefore, a toughening up, and a much stricter regime will come into place. It will take time because in order for Ireland to operationalise the pact at the same time as other member states in 2026, work on transposing legislation and operational reform will have to happen.

That is now beginning at pace. I have no issue. I am sure the committee is at leave to give further consideration to this, if it so wishes. That is a matter we can take up with the Chairperson of the justice committee. I will reflect on it from a governmental perspective. We are not rushing this but it is normally the committee that is responsible for any given piece of legislation. There is a distance to go here yet. I am open to a full debate.

I want to make it clear that this matter was discussed at length in the Business Committee this morning. One of the decisions made was that when the matter comes back from the committee, whatever time is necessary to debate it in full will be provided here in the Chamber. I would be surprised, therefore, if there was to be any curtailment of the debate in the committee, where the details and intricacies of that legislation need to be looked at.

Legislation has to come back here anyway.

Exactly. That decision, unlike any decision that we have made before, was that whatever time is required will be provided here. I call Deputy Mick Barry.