Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Before we conclude, it is important to put on record our respect for the work that is being carried out by the Naval Service in search-and-rescue missions in the Mediterranean. In stark contrast to some other countries, we are rescuing people. We are not turning them away. It is a dangerous and harrowing job and I want to put on record the thanks of my party for the work the members of the Naval Service they are doing.

While I note that we are sending a letter to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, following on from the point made by Senator Higgins and me, I am baffled that a round-table discussion involving Irish NGOs has not been convened since September 2015. There was a commitment at that meeting in September 2015 that there would be a follow-up. While I welcome the briefing today - and I do not wish to take away from any of the officials within the Department - this committee should call for a round-table discussion to be convened by the relevant Minister with the Irish NGOs and other interested bodies in advance of the upcoming summit, which will be co-chaired by him and his officials. That is a must. Even the idea of not doing so, and not seeking the advice of all these groups that are working on the migrant crisis across the globe, beggars belief. Following this meeting, I hope that will happen. We should highlight that issue clearly in a separate specific letter. I assume that the Irish NGOs and others which are not before the committee today would be flexible and would welcome such a meeting, even at short notice.

I again thank the witnesses for attending.