Ms Emily Logan:

There are two points that strike me when the Deputy asks that question. First, I am conscious that the Minister, Deputy Charlie Flanagan, has said the final scheme will be more generous, which we would welcome. Second, data are being put into the public domain that suggest an increase in the number of refugees coming to Ireland. This distorts the public's understanding of what is going on and what has been described by the Department of Justice and Equality as the "pull factor". We have examined the international research in this regard, the most recent of which has been done in the University of Warwick and was published in March 2016. The researchers examined the period 1997 to 2016. They considered 11 pieces of research and 18 pieces of quantitative research that account for the data on why people go to a country of destination. It is important that people understand it is not correct that employment will create a pull factor. The research found no direct long-term correlation between access to the labour market and people's decision to go to a country. It is much more complex than that. They come for family and linguistic reasons. The third reason is whether the destination country has respect for human rights and the rule of law. There may be colonial connections. There are very complex reasons for people coming. It is important for our political leaders not to put out messages suggesting that allowing refugees to work in this country will mean the floodgates will be opened to many.