Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2016
64. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the level of engagement she has had with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on special measures that could be taken when processing refugees, particularly unaccompanied minors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10050/16]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Ireland is a participant in the EU Relocation Programme under which applicants for asylum in Greece and Italy are relocated to other EU Member States to have their asylum applications processed there. Staff of my Department, including staff working on the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, are in routine ongoing contact with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on a range of issues relating to the Relocation Programme. This level of engagement and contact is fully reciprocated by colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. This includes, for example, in-depth engagement with Irish diplomatic staff in relevant Irish embassies including the Irish Embassy in Athens, Greece. Contact is at all levels up to and including Ambassador level. For example, staff of the Irish Embassy in Greece have been of invaluable assistance to my Department in dealing with a range of issues on the ground. Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are also members of the Steering Group established to oversee the implementation of the Irish Refugee Protection Programme. This is a cross Departmental / State Agency group with membership also drawn from the Red Cross and the UNHCR.
In all matters relating to unaccompanied minors my Department takes the advice of Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
