John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response and share his sentiments with regard to being saddened by what we have seen in Lesbos. I am saddened also by the Irish Government's response, which has been wholly inadequate. We have had ministerial commitments to what can only be described as a piecemeal response in committing to accept four minors.

Back in September 2019, the head of the Children's Rights Alliance said there was a moral duty on this Government to live up to its obligations to accept 36 minors which had been committed to in phase 1 of the refugee resettlement programme. Since that date only six minors have actually been accepted into the State, as alluded to by the Minister. We are 30 short of our own commitments, so agreeing to accept four is less than satisfactory and deeply disappointing. Perhaps the Minister might touch on that point first and foremost.

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