Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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55. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 55 of 16 September 2016, the steps she will take to offer asylum to the 200 unaccompanied children who are resident in the so-called jungle migrant camp in Calais, which is scheduled to be dismantled; the further steps she can take to offer asylum to other residents of the camp; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32262/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The ongoing migration crisis is a serious and extremely complex challenge facing the EU with numerous pressure points and it is important that there be a coherent and coordinated response. Persons who are currently in another EU Member State, including those in the camps in Calais and elsewhere, and who are in need of international protection, are entitled to make an application for asylum in that country, should they wish to do so. We also need to bear in mind that a defining characteristic of the migrants and asylum seekers who have gathered in Calais, including unaccompanied minors, has been their very strong desire to go to the UK as their ultimate destination and that this is unlikely to change. In that respect, as I have previously stated, I do not see that a unilateral initiative from Ireland would be appropriate in this case, not least given the fact that this is a delicate situation involving the borders between two other Member States.

I am also aware that in recent days the French authorities have commenced the transfer of migrants and asylum seekers from Calais to accommodation centres in various regions of France in advance of the closure of the Calais camp. I understand that this is being done to protect the security of the people of Calais, to maintain public order and to ensure dignified conditions for the migrants and refugees currently resident in the Calais camp, including unaccompanied minors.

As detailed in my response to Question Number 55 of 16 September 2016 from the Deputy, Ireland has agreed to accept unaccompanied children through the Relocation strand of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme. The Irish Refugee Protection Programme concerns the relocation of asylum seekers from Italy and Greece and resettlement under the UNHCR-led programme which is currently focused on resettling refugees from camps in Lebanon.