Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the calls made by the European Commission for more refugees from conflict zones to be admitted into the EU; the steps he is taking in order to achieve this aim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31742/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland is one of a number of EU Member States with a national resettlement programme. Since 2000, Ireland has accepted over 900 persons for resettlement from over 20 countries. Under the applicable Government Decision, the annual resettlement quota under the UNHCR Resettlement Programme is currently 200 persons to be admitted as programme refugees.

On 2 September 2009, the European Commission adopted a Communication on the establishment of a Joint EU Resettlement Programme which would be a new element of the Common European Asylum System. The Commission proposes that the Joint Programme would have the following added value compared to the existing national programmes of some of the Member States:

increased humanitarian impact through greater and better targeted support to the international protection of refugees through resettlement.

enhanced strategic use of resettlement by ensuring that it is properly integrated into the Union's external and humanitarian policies generally.

streamlining the Union's resettlement efforts delivering benefits in the most cost-effective manner.

The Commission proposal is based on the following guiding principles:

participation by Member States in resettlement should remain voluntary.

the scope of resettlement activity in the EU should be widened.

the mechanism for setting resettlement priorities annually should be adaptable.

actors other than Member States should participate, including UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration.

The resettlement activities of EU Member States are eligible for financial support from the European Refugee Fund (ERF) which was established for the period 2008 to 2013 by Decision No 573/2007/EC. The Commission proposes that the ERF Decision be amended to provide the mechanism for setting common EU resettlement priorities for the following year through a Decision to be taken by the Commission. Following the adoption of the Commission Decision, the Member States will provide pledges of numbers of persons whom they will resettle according to the common EU annual priorities. On the basis of these pledges Member States will receive financial assistance of €4,000 per person to be resettled.

The Commission proposal for an amendment to the 2007 ERF Decision is subject to the co-decision procedure involving the European Parliament and the Council. Detailed work on the proposal by the preparatory bodies of the Council has yet to commence. However, as this work proceeds my Department will be concerned to ensure that the advantages of a Joint EU Programme which are suggested by the Commission are in fact achievable and that the positive elements of the national resettlement programmes are not lost with the establishment of a Joint EU Programme.