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

First, taking in unaccompanied minors is not a straightforward process. It normally involves civil servants from the Department and members of An Garda Síochána interviewing people to ensure they can be brought safely to Ireland and that they are suitable to resettle here and want to come here. Therefore, we are absolutely committed to fulfilling the commitments we have made and I suspect we will probably go beyond. Every time I am contacted by the European Commission to assist in accommodating refugees or asylums seekers, normally people who are trying to cross the Mediterranean, we almost always respond positively and we quietly accommodate different numbers at different times. This country is welcoming, wants to be generous and wants to commit to a sense of solidarity within the European Union where all countries should share the burden and show a willingness to support countries that border the Mediterranean, in particular, which are put under significant pressure.

It is my understanding that an investigation is already under way into how this happened and to learn lessons from it.

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