Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Under the agreement between the EU and Turkey, each migrant has the right to apply for international protection in Greece, to have his or her application assessed on an individual basis in line with international law, including the right to appeal. Part of the assessment of persons process includes ascertaining whether Turkey can be considered a safe country, given an irregular migrant or asylum seeker's individual circumstances. Turkey has provided a series of formal guarantees as part of the EU-Turkey agreement, including that Syrian refugees returned to Turkey will be granted temporary protection upon return. Non-Syrians in need of international protection who are returned to Turkey will also be able to apply for and receive protection there. On 4 May, the European Commission reported that Turkey has received all those returned from Greece in accordance with the agreement.

I share the concern as evidenced by the Deputy and I wish to assure her that we will continue to monitor the situation. Ireland is one of a number of countries that continues to provide humanitarian aid to the region, which is obviously a priority in terms of the treatment of refugees, asylum seekers and other displaced persons.

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