asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will be accepting 400 Indo-Chinese refugees and if so when.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Indo-Chinese Refugees.
7.
I announced on 22 May that the Government had decided to admit 100 Indo-Chinese refugees to Ireland.
I am not in a position to say when these refugees will enter Ireland. My Department are in contact with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in order to work out details relating to the selection of refugees and arrangements for their travel to Ireland, and the Irish Red Cross Society have been asked to arrange for a reception centre. I would expect that they will arrive here in the near future.
Has the Minister any tentative plans for the distribution, accommodation and allocation of these refugees? May I compliment him and his Department for accepting these refugees and hope they will accept more?
I do not have the details of the mechanical arrangements. This matter is being delegated to the Irish Red Cross Society and I have the utmost confidence in their ability to handle it.
Could the Minister give more information about the time of arrival of these refugees? When he answered questions on this subject more than a month ago, all Members stressed the urgency of the matter because these refugees are existing in extremely grim conditions.
The Deputy must ask a question.
Will the Minister assure the House that these refugees will be admitted very quickly?
There is no question about that. Arrangements have been made and we are awaiting their arrival.
Approximately how many Vietamese refugees have lost their lives in the act of escaping?
That is a separate question.
Is the Minister satisfied that the figure of 400 is large enough and has he any plans to increase that number?
We are making a start and we are very anxious to help. I do not have any idea of the total number of people who unfortunately died but we will do our best——
A very large number.
In view of the fact that this unfortunate international tragedy has been going on for many months, what is causing the delay?
There is no delay at our end. We have made all the arrangements. We are waiting for the refugees to arrive.
Is the Minister aware that the initial announcement that the refugees would be accepted by this country was made months ago and since then we have been getting nothing but excuses as to why that is not happening? Will the Minister personally intervene to ensure that all the red tape is cut?
I want to assure the Deputy that there is no delay at our end.
Those unfortunate people would not agree with the Minister.
I cannot control events in the Far East.
(Interruptions.)
The Minister cannot even control them in Dublin.
These people are dying on the high seas because no one will take them.
Is the Minister aware that as far back as January this year bulletins were broadcast on Radio Telefís Eireann—radio and television—stating that the Government were accepting refugees? The Minister stated we were accepting 100 about May. The delay has been very long——
There is no delay at our end. I cannot direct the traffic from the Far East.
I appreciate the difficulty the Minister is having directing traffic in Ireland, but will he tell the House if he intends accepting more than the 100 refugees already mentioned?
Yes.
How many?
Is it 100 or 400?
The total number is 400 but at the moment we are expecting 100.