Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The principle of non-refoulement in international law forbids the rendering of a victim of persecution to his or her persecutor. Generally, the persecutor in question is a state actor. According to Article 33.1 of the 1951 UN Convention and Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees "No Contracting State shall expel or return ("refouler") a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where his life or freedom would be threatened on account of his race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion." In the past year, the EU has concluded deportation deals with Turkey and Afghanistan and is thrashing out further migration compacts with Nigeria, Niger, Mali, Ethiopia and Senegal and there is talk of deals with Lebanon and Jordan. These deals have been criticised by human rights groups for commodifying refugees and allowing their protection to be outsourced to countries ill-equipped to protect them. Is the Minister happy that all the countries involved are safe and suitable for meeting the needs of those escaping conflict and violence?

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