Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Like so many other of my colleagues this evening, I agree that we must prioritise bringing these children to safety and making them safe and secure. The situation in Calais is unacceptable. Unaccompanied children are so vulnerable. On humanitarian grounds the Government should signify tonight that it will accept the 200 children into this country. We need to do more on behalf of these children and to provide them with a safe place where they can live, have clean drinking water, food, shelter and so many other basic needs.

Along with a number of my colleagues, I was able to take the opportunity last week to attend the briefing. For anybody unfamiliar with the situation there, it would have been a real eye-opener to learn of the distress and horror that everybody, but particularly the children, are experiencing there. I understand there are also up to 800 families who have already volunteered to take these children into their homes. It should be possible for agencies such as Tusla simply to join the dots here and with regard to children and volunteer families. It should be possible to make it happen and to bring them to some place where they are safe and secure.

The Tánaiste in her contribution outlined how Ireland, if requested, would be proactive. I understand "proactive" to mean taking the lead, showing leadership, going out and making it happen. We need to be proactive. The Government should respond immediately and with compassion and provide these children with suitable accommodation and make them safe. Yes, accommodation, education and integration and so many other issues may become challenges, but we should do it because it is the right thing to do. The Government should make it known immediately to the French authorities that it is willing to accept the 200 children and more if needed. It is unacceptable that the situation as it stands should continue.

Mar fhocal scoir, níl íseal ná uasal ach thíos seal is thuas seal. Bhí tréimhse ann cheana nuair a bhí ar mhuintir na hÉireann taistil. Níl sé ann anois faoi láthair. Tá na daoine seo i ngátar agus ba chóir dúinn a bheith gníomhach agus cabhair a thabhairt dóibh.

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