Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I join my colleagues in extending good wishes to Senator Jimmy Harte. I have known him for a long number of years and had the pleasure of serving with him on the HSE west forum for a number of years. Both there and here I saw at first hand his commitment to public service and his concern for the people he represented. I hope his recovery will continue and that he makes a full return to health. We think of him and his family at this difficult time and hope the future will be much brighter for him.

This year will be remembered for the appalling situation we have witnessed in Syria and other war-torn parts of the world, with hundreds of thousands of people seeking refuge in Europe. I am pleased a decision was finally taken yesterday that 160,000 refugees would be accommodated, housed and cared for in the European Union and that we would take our share of those, at least 4,000. Will the Seanad bring forward whatever legislation or authorisation is required from the Houses of the Oireachtas next week to facilitate the Government in accommodating those people? I know a departmental task force, chaired by the Department of Justice and Equality, has been established in recent weeks.It would be appropriate if, next week, we could get an update from it as to what progress is being made working with the NGOs, the religious orders and the Red Cross. I certainly would not share the concern expressed by Senator Healy Eames relating to anti-refugee sentiment because I witnessed a huge outpouring of generosity last week in Ballinasloe when people were asked to contribute clothing for shipment to Calais to support people in emergency accommodation and I am sure that will be reflected throughout the country as we try to come to terms with this difficulty.