Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Business Committee decided that there would be discussions and statements on this topic next week, with a view to discussing the possibility of an all-party motion the following week. Like Deputy McDonald, I am appalled at the scenes from Calais. From our own point of view in terms of our commitment to refugees, a further 40 Syrian refugees will be arriving in Dublin Airport today.

We will meet in full the obligations we have made in the programme to which we have committed to take 4,000 primarily Syrian refugees. That work is continuing. We have officers who have just returned from the refugee camps and Greece and we are identifying young people in need of care and protection here. At European and international level, the programme has been delayed by various problems, primarily the fact that most refugees have moved onward to Sweden and other countries. We are now in a position, however, in which refugees are being identified who are coming to this country. By the end of the year, the number brought to Ireland will be close to 1,000 under both the relocation and resettlement programmes. I look forward to the debate in the House next week on this very important issue.

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