David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Discussion about the Defence Forces is going outside my remit. The Minister of State, Deputy Kehoe might discuss that with the committee. I know that the navy has done an enormous amount work in the Mediterranean and has saved many lives. Thousands of people have been rescued by our naval service and I have met some of the personnel involved. Some of what they have gone through has also been life changing for them.

I am also aware that people are being exploited by traffickers in the Mediterranean and so on and there is a role to be played in dealing with that. However, that is outside of what we are discussing today which is what we do with this funding when we have it and the important issue of drawing it down and looking after the people who come here, working towards the various integration models and the migrant integration strategy.