Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Today, I want to speak about the horrific situation in the refugee camp in Calais known as the jungle. I commend the efforts of the Not On Our Watch organisation, backed by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and other civil society bodies, on its work on a campaign to relocate 200 unaccompanied minors from the camp in Calais to this State. These are children fleeing persecution and horror. They did not start the wars or provide the ammunition to continue them. They could be any of our children. Children as young as eight have arrived at Calais on their own and they know that people do not want them. Imagine what that feels like. As a nation, we know what is was like when the signs in the doorways of our once unfriendly neighbours bore the words "No dogs and no Irish". How quickly we forget. It is no longer good enough for us to say that this is a complex problem and to wring our hands.Leadership on this issue must come from those in government and Members of the Oireachtas. I commend Sr. Stanislaus Kennedy and her calls for a national effort. Like most others, I want the Ireland of the future to be a multicultural and dynamic society where we embrace difference and diversity. We should never allow unfounded fears to fester and rot the minds of individuals and communities. Today, I call on the Taoiseach, as a matter of urgency, to lead the way by doing two very simple things. First, he should contact Karen Moynihan from Terenure who has been doing wonderful work with the Refugee Youth Service, which works with unaccompanied children in this refugee camp. Second, he should pick up the phone to his French counterpart, President Hollande, and offer this State as a place where these 200 children can be relocated and placed within families where they will know that they are loved and wanted. After all, we like to wear the badge that we are a kind and friendly nation that truly cares about humankind. It is now our time to show the world that we truly deserve this badge of honour.