Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Discussions are taking place between the parties in respect of the Calais situation. This matter, which has been raised at European Council meetings on a number of occasions, is between Britain and France. The British Government has duties and responsibilities under the European Union treaties to take in unaccompanied minors and children where they have relatives or family in the United Kingdom. This matter was dealt with between President Hollande and the former Prime Minister, Mr. David Cameron, on a number of occasions.

The situation in Calais was completely unacceptable. The humanitarian crisis has been dealt with to the extent that some children have been taken into Britain and the French social services are looking after the remaining children. A case has been made for Ireland to take 200 children. We have taken more than 100 unaccompanied children under the programme to which we signed up. I make the point to Deputy Boyd Barrett that when we brought children here before we put them into hostels and some of them died in the care of the Health Service Executive, while others disappeared or were trafficked into the sex industry. We will not stand for a repeat of that situation.

I understand only 28 foster parents are available. Tusla has stated that an exceptional cost applies to this, although I do not want to talk about money in this regard. If we do this, and we want to help, we need to have services and proper accommodation available for young unaccompanied minors.

We have over 100 here already. Tusla has spoken about the medical, language, health and the educational requirements. They should be in foster homes. While this has been a terribly disappointing situation, Ireland wants to help. We did sign on for 4,000 refugees. There are numbers coming in already who are children.

See this speech in context