Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 5 October 2016

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

UN Summit on Refugees and Migrants: Discussion

9:00 am

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The first issue raised by Deputy Farrell relates to the discussions taking place at EU level on asylum policy generally. There are divided views on the question of a mandatory quota and it is difficult to see where agreement will emerge. Effectively, under the relocation scheme a mandatory quota was not agreed but rather a quota for each country. Clear criteria were set out on how that was to be decided. They are published and take into account population, GDP and various other factors. Under that arrangement we have a quota. Of course it was optional for us; we were able to opt in. The figure of 2,622 is our effective quota and that is what we are working towards.

The mandatory question is a matter of ongoing discussion. Committee members will have seen the Hungarian response and other responses. Other countries have strong views on the matter and will not support it.

There are choices for refugees at present in terms of country of destination. If family are in place already there is choice, to a degree. It is not 100% but this is taken into account when our teams go to Greece and the refugee camps there. If people there proactively indicate that they want to come to Ireland, that is helpful and we try to respond to that. As part of the assessment process if people already have members of the family in a given country, they get priority when it comes to going to that country. It is not an absolute right. Under international refugee practice, it is not seen as a definitive right for a person in that situation to choose the country in question. Although, if any of us were in that situation, I imagine we would like to go to the country with which we might identify ourselves. Choice is taken into account as much as possible.

Deputy Farrell asked about third level education. If a person has leave to remain, he or she is eligible for third level. A programme is in place for children in direct provision going to third level. The former Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, made a decision last year in respect of children who had been in direct provision and who were at that point ready to go to third level. She decided they could do that without having to pay foreign fees. Sponsorship programmes are in place. However, this area requires a more long-term policy from the Department of Education and Skills and that Department is working on the matter.

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