Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 June 2016
191. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the efforts being made to protect unaccompanied minors who arrive in refugee camps on the Greek islands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17645/16]
View answerThe situation of unaccompanied minors is a distressing aspect of the ongoing Migration crisis and there are concerns in this regard in many countries both in Europe and elsewhere. While there is a problem with the care of unaccompanied minors in parts of Greece, the Greek authorities are working with the UN High Commission for Refugees and UNICEF to provide appropriate facilities for unaccompanied minors. Since the EU-Turkey deal of March this year, new arrivals on the islands, including unaccompanied minors, are taken to the hotspots where their claims can be assessed. If they are found to be admissible under the terms of the EU-Turkey deal, they can be taken to centres on the mainland. Up to 500 migrants have already been deemed admissible and moved to the mainland. The Greek Government, working with the European Asylum Support Office, the UN High Commission for Refugees and other agencies, is currently conducting a mass pre-registration programme in the mainland refugee camps. They hope to pre-register all migrants in Greece by the end of July. Once the pre-registration has taken place, the government will know where it stands in relation to the profile of all migrants (age, family status, nationality, and special needs) and will be able to devise appropriate responses, including and especially relating to the care and protection of unaccompanied minors.
