Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

599. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his views regarding the measures advocated by the safe passage campaign (details supplied) which seeks to reunite separated refugee families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37569/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In 2014, before the migrant crisis escalated, a Syrian Humanitarian Admissions Programme (SHAP) was introduced, subject to certain conditions being met. This was replaced in 2015 with the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP), which allows for Syrians and other vulnerable nationalities to benefit from resettlement and relocation schemes, and offers them protection in Ireland in their own right. This is a much improved programme allowing many vulnerable people to benefit from protection here. To date, 1,244 refugees and asylum seekers have been admitted to Ireland under these programmes. An additional 541 asylum seekers will be relocated from Greece by the end of the year. We will also working on the resettlement in the coming months of an additional 255 programme refugees from UNCHR camps in Lebanon.

I am not of the view that the best solution to this crisis is to increase the number of programmes and all the administrative and legal complexities that go with them. My emphasis is to concentrate on the number of people arriving in Ireland under the programmes currently in place. I am satisfied that we are making good progress now and that there is capacity to ensure more vulnerable people can come to Ireland under these programmes in the period ahead. All of our focus needs to be on these objectives. I would encourage all community groups and individuals to continue to make contact with offers of support to the Irish Red Cross and the Irish Refugee Protection Programme - these will be followed up and assessed promptly and can directly benefit the increased numbers of people we have committed to welcoming to Ireland this year.

Significant resources are being invested in these humanitarian efforts through the offices of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme and the International Protection Office. As a result we have developed mechanisms and associated expertise to deal with resettlement and relocation. Our response to the migrant crisis in terms of accepting refugees is through the IRPP and all available resources are being directed to that Programme in order to meet the commitment entered into. It is essential that we continue our efforts to complete the IRPP successfully before we look to apply the learning from this Programme to deliberations with regards to any future refugee intake. Decisions taken at EU level with regard to the ongoing migration crisis will of course impact on any such deliberations.

In relation to family reunification, existing avenues for the admission of more extended family members are already available under the provisions of the INIS Non-EEA Policy Document on Family Reunification, which allows beneficiaries of international protection, including those admitted under the IRPP, and other Non-EEA migrants residing lawfully in Ireland to make an application. As Minister, I can and do apply my discretion as regards the economic conditions for sponsors set down in the Policy Document. Such applications on humanitarian grounds are examined on a case-by-case basis and I expect this practice to continue.