Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 September 2015
92. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the preparations for the reception of refugees from Syria; if refugees coming here are already in the EU or are applicants for EU refugee in status countries bordering the war zone of the former Syrian republic, or if refugees entering here will be a mixture of both dispossessed populations. [32394/15]
View answerAs part of the Government's response to the migration crisis, I brought proposals to Government which were considered and agreed at a special Cabinet meeting on 10th of September. A multi-faceted approach is being adopted including the following measures:
- establishing the Irish Refugee Protection Programme which will provide international protection for up to 4,000 persons overall under Resettlement and Relocation Programmes. It is expected that these numbers will be augmented by further family reunifications. The first arrivals under the Programme are expected by year end. The number of persons in need of international protection will be kept under review;
- establishing a new cross-departmental Taskforce, chaired by my Department, to deal with the operational and logistical aspects of the support programme. The Taskforce which has already had its first meeting, will adopt a whole of Government approach and will work with NGOs, religious bodies, local authorities and the Red Cross to implement the Government's response to this crisis;
- engaging with the public on their pledges of support. The Red Cross will lead this task;
- establishing a network of Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres for the initial reception of those arriving under the relocation programme;
- introduce the International Protection Bill as a major priority; and
- providing an additional package of processing resources to deal with major increases in asylum and other immigration cases, including the relocation measure, preparation for the Single Protection application process and increased enforcement across a number of areas, including removals.
Ireland is participating in both Resettlement and EU Relocation programmes. The resettlement programme for 520 people mainly coming from Lebanon and predetermined as refugees by the UNHCR has already commenced and the first Syrian refugees have arrived.
At the emergency Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting on 14 September 2015, the Council formally adopted the measure to relocate 40,000 and Ireland has agreed to take a total of 600. I attended a further emergency meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council yesterday at which agreement was reached on the relocation of a further 120,000 asylum seekers from countries in Southern Europe. Our contribution under this measure is likely to be a little less than 2,000.
