Ray Burke
Question:227 Mr. R. Burke asked the Minister for Justice the reason the Government has, over a period of 30 months, refused entry to four handicapped Somalian refugees who were to be cared for by Pilgrims House, County Wexford. [18338/96]
Written Answers. - Somalian Refugees.
I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 62 and 67 of 25 January 1996 in which I outlined in detail the background to this matter. In that answer I said:
A request was received from the Pilgrim House Community in June 1993 outlining a project about which they were in discussion with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, and seeking my Department's approval in principle to provide care in Ireland for a small group of Somali orphans and in the event of a parent subsequently presenting themselves that contact with the children would be facilitated.
The community was informed that its proposals had implications for a number of Departments, in particular the Departments of Health and Foreign Affairs. Although my Department has responsibility for immigration controls generally, any proposal regarding the admission of a group of people into the State in these circumstances — and especially a group of persons in need of constant medical attention — would need consideration by these other Departments.
The Pilgrim House Community was informed by the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs in January 1994 that the proposal was outside the scope of that Department's responsibilities for refugees as determined by Government decisions. My predecessor informed the community in February 1994 of her consequent inability to accede to its request.
I am not aware of any new information in the hands of the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Health or my Department which would warrant a reversal of that decision.
I am not aware of any developments which would alter the position.