Colette Kelleher (Independent) | Oireachtas source

Figures provided by the Department of Justice and Equality in response to a parliamentary question on 19 October outline the current status of the Government's commitments to welcoming 4,000 people as refugees to Ireland. They seem to show that Ireland is falling short with only one third of that target group welcomed to Ireland to date. In that context, and given that the deadline for meeting the Government's commitment is only two months away, will the Leader invite the Minister for Justice and Equality to the House to make a statement on this matter and outline what he and his Department are doing to meet the Government's promise and moral obligations in the context of the worst global refugee crisis since the Second World War, affecting 22.5 million people, half of whom are children? Will the Leader invite the Minister for Justice and Equality to explain to the House what urgent action is being taken to relieve the suffering of displaced people in crisis, including children, through no fault of their own but for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time? What measures will the Department introduce, including family reunification measures, to honour Ireland's relatively modest commitments, which now seem likely to be missed?