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

I intend to share time. I understand I have eight minutes.

I welcome this opportunity to again address the challenges that have arisen from the biggest displacement of migrants in modern times. An estimated 65 million vulnerable people are on the move at the moment. I welcome the recent focus by the UN on the issue of refugees and migrants and the national and international focus on this issue.

Conflict is especially cruel to children. They are not only robbed of their homes and sometimes their families; they are also deprived of their futures. Sustainable solutions are needed for refugees worldwide. It is not only a matter of food and shelter. That is simply the beginning. Although this is an important beginning, we must move on quickly to medium and longer-term needs like integration policies and education. Ireland's humanitarian response is focused on where needs are greatest, especially on those affected by the most severe crises and those affected by protracted and forgotten emergencies.

Since the migration crisis began the actions of this Government and the previous Government reflect the goodwill and concern of the Irish people to reach out and respond to those fleeing conflict and exploitation. A total of 101 unaccompanied minors have sought asylum in Ireland since January of this year and 59 are currently in the care of Tusla.

The witnessing of such a plight evokes sincere emotion, but we also have a duty to ensure the highest standards in responding to children in need of international protection. In recent years we have offered them foster homes instead of the arrangements offered previously, that is to say, hostels. I have met the children who were in those hostels and I saw their plight. They were extremely vulnerable and were exploited because of the lack of protection we gave to them in those hostels.

My priority in establishing the Irish refugee protection programme in 2015 has always been to protect children and families. In this regard I have worked with EU colleagues and through European programmes. Ireland has already met and surpassed its resettlement commitments in respect of children coming from refugee camps under the two-year EU programme. To date, 500 of the 520 programme refugees have arrived in Ireland. The figure includes 231 adults and 269 children. I have recently pledged to accept an additional 260 refugees from the refugee camps in 2017 with a significant further commitment to be confirmed in 2017.

Under the EU relocation programme a total of 58 adults and 51 children have arrived to date. We have confirmed pledges for another 124 adults and 91 children to arrive here by year end. In total 320 children have arrived in Ireland with a further 91 en route under the Irish refugee protection programme, IRPP. As a result of the ongoing work of our teams in Greece, hundreds more will arrive next year. I am proud that Ireland opted in voluntarily, with the approval of this House to the EU decisions offering resettlement and relocation. Although there have been delays in the implementation of the programme to begin with because most refugees were going on to Sweden and Germany, that programme is accelerating and we will meet our commitment of 4,000.

The situation in Calais is developing on a daily basis. Like many in this House I have watched the distressing and disturbing pictures on television over recent months. I have also seen the determination of the people there, in grave circumstances, to form a community. It is an indication of the natural human desire for a community and a place where we can root ourselves. We will continue with our efforts to increase the intake from the relocation countries of unaccompanied minors who are in similar circumstances to those in Calais. If It emerges from Calais over the coming weeks that Ireland is a genuine location of choice for some of these young people, and our assistance is requested, we can of course respond in a humanitarian and proactive way.

The wishes of the children must also be respected. A defining characteristic of the refugees who have gathered in Calais, including unaccompanied minors, has been their very strong desire to go to the UK as their ultimate destination. In our sincere efforts to respond to the migrant crisis, it is essential that we do not impose our perspectives or solutions upon them. The Minister for Foreign Affairs has already spoken about the serious engagement between the UK and France. I do not have time, unfortunately, to go into further detail but I am encouraged by the current humanitarian cooperation between the French and UK Governments. We will continue to monitor the situation in Calais and if our assistance is requested we can respond in a humanitarian and proactive way.

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