2266. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Ireland's current position in relation to European Union initiatives on migration management, border security and protection of the EU's external borders; the specific measures Ireland is advocating at EU level to reduce undocumented migration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60635/26]

Ireland has shown its commitment to a common EU-wide solution to migration through opting in to the EU Migration and Asylum Pact.

As the Deputy will be aware, the International Protection Act 2026 entered into effect on 12 June 2026 and gives effect to the measures of the Pact which Ireland has opted into, and provides for appropriate alignment with the Schengen measures of the Pact.

The Pact provides for a fair, sustainable and efficient asylum procedure through convergence in asylum practices across the EU including standardised processing times for decisions: six months for a standard procedure, three months for accelerated and border procedures and two months for processing applicants who have applied for protection elsewhere in the EU.

Harmonisation in the area of returns is equally important and it is the Government’s preference that Ireland would participate in the Returns Regulation.

Additionally, the Deputy may wish to know that the Programme for Government contains a commitment to publish a National Migration and Integration Strategy detailing how Government intends to meet the demands and the opportunities facing Ireland’s society and economy over the next decade.

My Department is currently working collaboratively with a wide range of other Government departments to develop this strategy with the aim to publish Ireland’s first overarching whole-of-government National Migration and Integration Strategy in the coming months.

The scope of the Strategy will include issues such as labour market needs, legal pathways, international education and planning for public service provision including housing, amongst other issues relating to migration.

As of the 1 July of this year, Ireland took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union and for six months from that date, we will be driving an ambitious programme of work to advance the interests of the Union.

Under the Justice and Home Affairs Council, which I Chair, one of the three overarching priorities for our Presidency is advancing a fair, firm, rules-based approach to migration, asylum and returns.

Central to this is of course the effective implementation of the Pact, as well as preparing for the implementation of the recently agreed returns measure.

I will also focus on the external dimensions of migration, including through partnerships with third countries and using the tools at our disposal to improve the rate of return and readmission of those with no right to remain in the Union.

The Irish Presidency will also prioritise advancing actions that support Member States to secure our borders, fight serious and organised crime and respond to new and emerging threats.