Mr. Michael Kirrane:

I thank the members of the committee for inviting me here today to discuss the readiness of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service to address the practical challenges that are anticipated arising from the Government's decision to take up to 4,000 people who are in urgent need of international protection. As part of the Government's response to the crisis, the Minister for Justice and Equality brought proposals to the Government which were considered and agreed at a special Cabinet meeting on 10 September. The multifaceted approach that is being adopted includes the establishment of an Irish refugee protection programme, which will provide international protection to up to 4,000 people under resettlement and relocation programmes. It is expected that this number will be augmented by further family reunifications. The number of people in need of international protection will be kept under review. It has also been decided to establish a new cross-departmental task force, chaired by the Department of Justice and Equality, to deal with the operational and logistical aspects of the support programme. A range of Government Departments will be represented on and involved in the task force, which has already had its first meeting and will work with non-governmental organisations, religious bodies and local authorities. In addition, the Red Cross will implement certain elements of the programme. The UNHCR is also represented on the task force. The Red Cross will specifically lead the task of engaging with public pledges of support.

The Government has also decided to establish emergency reception and orientation centres for the initial reception of those arriving under the relocation programme. It has also approved the provision of an additional package of processing resources to deal with the major increases in asylum applications and other immigration cases. The resettlement programme has already commenced. A number of people who were selected through the UNHCR process from Lebanon have already arrived. They form part of the overall number of 520 people involved in that programme. The first relocation measure to be approved by the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 14 September last involves an overall number of 40,000 and Ireland will be taking 600 from that. The next package of measures, which was agreed on 21 September, involves some 120,000 people who are in need of international protection. The overall number that Ireland will take under that package is approximately 1,850. The precise number has not yet been worked out, but that is the best estimate at this point.

As I have indicated, an interdepartmental and inter-agency task force has been established. In addition, a number of subgroups have been established to look at specific areas. In that context, the Department of Justice and Equality will take the lead in the process of relocating people to Ireland, in the refugee assessment process and in the establishment of the orientation centres. Work has commenced with the Office of Public Works and the Department of Defence on looking at the available State properties that could possibly be used. Other options will also be considered. The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and the city and county managers will take the lead in providing accommodation to people who are granted refugee status. As I have said, the Red Cross will take the lead in the overall co-ordination and management of the many pledges of support that have come from the public. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will also liaise with the non-governmental organisation community.

My colleague, Mr. John Roycroft, has just been appointed to head up a new project and programme office that has been established in the Department. That office will co-ordinate the various aspects of the programme across the Department. Preparations are under way for working with our EU colleagues abroad. The Refugee Applications Commissioner will outline the further arrangements in that regard. The best practice for dealing with people who are arriving in these circumstances is for them to be accommodated in a single location, rather than being dispersed immediately. It is likely that they will come with a common language and without a knowledge of Ireland. It is considered best practice to deliver services in a co-ordinated fashion at a single centre rather than dispersing individuals immediately. The intention is that these people will be processed through the asylum process very quickly. After that has happened, other State bodies and agencies will take over the task of finding longer-term accommodation, etc. That covers my opening statement.