Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her report. As the head of the Irish delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, I have the privilege of regularly meeting delegates of the 56 other members states involved. The vast majority of them are in Europe and they are suffering exactly the same difficulties we are having with regard to the numbers of migrants that have been committed to through various agreements at an EU level versus the numbers applying. As the Minister has identified, we are not unique. The vast majority of migrants crossing from Syria and beyond are applying for visas to remain in Germany, Sweden and elsewhere.

I spoke to my counterpart in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, which is not a member state, on Saturday. That country has approximately 200 migrants who are in limbo because of the agreements in the European Union. These migrants have no desire to be in that country but, because of a variety of agreements, they are being left in limbo. Regrettably, I only find out about this scenario after the Minister's attendance at the summit because it is a matter worthy of being raised and aired at such an event.

I have two short questions for the Minister, who was rather frank in the information she provided. We have a determined target in terms of the number of migrants we will accept. There is then the number of people who have applied or been processed. From an EU perspective, does the Minister foresee a scenario where we will make a determination on certain groups approved by Irish and/or fellow EU authorities in some form of arrangement which would allocate them into a specific country regardless - and this may be a bit of an issue - of their own desire? If we have a problem, particularly on the cusp of Europe, and it is a problem that is getting worse, where individuals do not wish to come to these shores for a variety of what I am sure are valid reasons, from a humanitarian perspective, even temporary settlement or resettlement in this jurisdiction would give them relief and would relieve the pressures on our European counterparts. I might add that this is not a matter the OSCE parliamentary members from across the globe have raised. It is rather one that might be seen as a response to and a move away from issues such as the crises we have in Calais and elsewhere across Europe.

My final question relates to migrants having access to third level education. It also applies to those wishing to become Irish citizens or remain in the State. I appreciate it is not within the remit of the Department but I would welcome the Minister's view on the matter. We give children and young people access to our education system. This is an excellent endeavour on our part and I imagine it is echoed in other countries. However, we deny these people access to third level education. Having put them through the Irish education system, especially given the legacy of delays within direct provision and so on, this is bordering on cruel. Many of these children have been brought up here and they are as Irish as my two children. This is something we really should address. I know there was a debate about the matter in the last Dáil. The question should be given another airing given the new environment in which we find ourselves.