Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have long been a fan of Mr. Ging's work. It is absolutely inspirational to sit here and listen to the passion and compassion he has for the people on the ground with whom he deals in such an important and strategic way. The work he carries out on a humanitarian level is absolutely phenomenal. I apologise that I did not get to hear the presentation. I was at another meeting. I am not a member of this committee but I wanted to come in to hear about some of the work. Deputy Darragh O’Brien, who is a committee member, contacted me because he knew this is an area in which I am interested. It is refreshing to hear on a number of different levels the impact of Irish Aid and the fact it is so well monitored. I have seen some experience of this and I certainly add to this. There is also the fact that the work Ireland carries out as a small country is very much appreciated and held up to a very high standard. Accountability is hugely important in terms of where our funds go and to ensure we have the optimum impact for the money spent.

Bringing it back a little to the Irish record on the current crisis with refugees and the migration crisis, the Oireachtas passed a motion eight or ten months ago that we would bring in 200 unaccompanied minors, those who have been left devastated without family, country or any support. To date there are only four here, which is hugely regrettable. It is a poor indictment on the Government. There is also the fact it was agreed we would take 4,000 refugees from the Syrian crisis. To date we have taken in only 760, 241 of whom are refugees and 519 are under the resettlement mechanism. We are moving at a very slow pace and I and my party believe we need to do far more in terms of bringing refugees and those whom we can resettle to the country and ensuring the conditions are there for them, so schools have the appropriate places and can give the appropriate support to these people who are fleeing from their homes carrying nothing but the shirt on their back and taking hugely arduous journeys which many do not survive. I am always conscious that while those on the LE Eithnedid a wonderful job saving people in the Mediterranean, for which they have been awarded medals, we need to do far more than just pull people from the Mediterranean. As a country we absolutely need to step up and do so much more at a humanitarian level. I accept what Mr. Ging said about the political and conflict resolution side of it being different, and it is a huge part of the story, but on a humanitarian level as a country we absolutely should and need to do far more.