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

We proactively committed to taking in 4,000 refugees under the relocation and resettlement programmes. Most countries in Europe agreed to accept certain numbers based on criteria that were established by the European Union, but we proactively agreed to do it. Since then, huge resources have been put in place to ensure that we will meet our commitment. Refugees are arriving almost every three weeks at present. As I have often said, there was a slow start to the programme not just in Ireland but also across Europe. The reason is that the systems in Greece and Italy were chaotic for registration. As we saw, refugees moving throughout Europe were not being registered. That situation has changed dramatically and the refugees who arrive in Greece are all being registered, given accommodation and arrangements are made for them to be relocated to other countries. Once that system was up and running Ireland was in a position to receive the refugees it had indicated it would receive. My Department has been sending teams to both Lebanon and Greece regularly over the last 18 months to ensure the programme works and proceeds.

I agree with what the Deputy said about community responses in this country. We are fortunate to see the responses given by communities to refugees in need both in Ballaghaderreen and in other places. We have not experienced some of the attitudes and reactions to refugees that have occurred in other countries. Of course, Ireland is not a front-line state and is not dealing with the numbers that there are in other countries. However, the programme is under way. We are also working on the motion passed by the Dáil in respect of taking minors from Calais. That programme has started and young people have already arrived in this country. We have sent teams to France on a number of occasions to ensure that the commitment is being met. However, it takes time.

Over 1,000 refugees have arrived under the commitment we made. They are primarily from Greece and Lebanon. There have been delays in Italy because Italy wants us to accept the security it carries out and will not let An Garda Síochána carry out the vetting there. We are not prepared to accept that. We have had detailed discussions with the people concerned to try to resolve that, but we have not been able to resolve it for security reasons. We will have to take more people from Greece to fulfil the numbers to which we have committed.

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