Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ireland has always responded positively to humanitarian crises and we will not be found wanting on this occasion either. As I said in my response, up to 50 people in family groups will be resettled to Ireland from Greece under the Irish refugee protection programme. It would be good if Deputy Brady recognised that, quite frankly. They will be given every support to rebuild their lives here in peace and safety. This is in addition to the commitment we have already made with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR, to resettle 2,900 refugees to Ireland over the next four years and they will be welcome and safe here too.

We have already received 1,022 asylum seekers, including six unaccompanied minors, from Greece under the first phase of the Irish refugee protection programme. We have also committed to accept 36 unaccompanied minors in need of international protection from Greece and I was pleased that the first group of eight such minors arrived in Ireland last June. As I mentioned, the Government has decided to accept another group of four unaccompanied minors as part of this overall commitment. It is, however, an ongoing commitment and we will respond in as generous a way as we can.

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