John Brassil (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There are Irish Aid workers in these camps and they are telling us clearly that Ireland is a location of choice. It is because their second language is English that these children want to resettle in an English speaking country. If a family in Ireland wanted to help now, is there a point of contact where they can make their interest known that they would be willing to foster a family? If there is not, one should be set up immediately. If it was publicised I imagine that in a very short time we would see the humanity of Irish people and the interest they would show in helping the Minister in the job of relocating these unaccompanied children.

I was aware of this issue but when I went to the briefing last week and saw the gravity of the situation, my immediate reaction was that I wanted to help. I want to do something. The Government has to do something. If the Minister gives me a point of contact, I will make my interest known that I will take one of these children into my family, with a heart and a half. I have a young family and the only question that went through my mind in the past week was that if my 18 year old, 15 year old or 14 year old was unaccompanied in a dangerous country, would I want to help? Of course I would.

I ask the Minister to initiate an immediate response to this crisis. All I can think of is that I want to help. I want to cut through the red tape. We should liaise with the French Government, make things happen, and let the people of Ireland show that we are a humanitarian society, that we care and we want to give these unaccompanied children a future and a life in this country.

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