28 Apr 2015, 15:36
The Joint Committee on European Union Affairs will hold a special meeting on the ongoing migration crisis in the Mediterranean when it meets tomorrow.
28th April 2015
Appearing before the Committee will be:
• Peter Sutherland, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for Migration and International Development;
• Giovanni Adorni Braccesi Chiassi, Italian Ambassador;
• Brian Killoran, Chief Executive, Immigrant Council of Ireland.
Committee Chair, Dominic Hannigan, TD, said: “Record numbers of refugees and migrants have tried to reach Europe this year, travelling in overcrowded, unseaworthy vessels. These people – many of whom are families with young children – are fleeing war-torn countries including Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan and Iraq, desperate to reach the relative safety of Europe. Last week, the global community was shocked by the mass drowning of an estimated 800 people off the Maltese coast, all of whom had been risking their lives trying to cross the Mediterranean.”
“The Joint Committee on EU Affairs believes that this ongoing crisis must be addressed urgently by Europe. We and our European colleagues must ensure that those fleeing war, persecution and poverty do not become the victims of trafficking and disasters such as this one. Tomorrow, we will discuss possible solutions to the ongoing migrant crisis. We will also address the myriad issues surrounding immigration into Europe. As conflicts continue in the Middle East, Europe must plan for how best to address the rising numbers of refugees seeking asylum from disaster-racked countries.”
Tomorrow’s meeting will commence at 12.15pm in Committee Room 2, Leinster House, tomorrow, Wednesday, 29th April 2015.
Committee proceedings can be viewed live here.
Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the move, through the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.
Ends
Media Enquiries:
Nuala Walsh,
Houses of the Oireachtas,
Communications Unit,
Leinster House,
Dublin 2
P: +3531 618 3437 / M: +353 86 4100 898
Nuala.Walsh@Oireachtas.ie
Committee Membership
Chairman: Dominic Hannigan, TD (Labour)
Deputies:
Eric Byrne (Labour); Seán Crowe (Sinn Féin); Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail); Bernard J. Durkan (Fine Gael); John Halligan (Independent); Seán Kyne (Fine Gael); Derek Keating (Fine Gael); Joe O’Reilly (Fine Gael)
Senators:
Colm Burke (Fine Gael); Aideen Hayden (Labour); Terry Leyden (Fianna Fáil); Catherine Noone (Fine Gael); Kathryn Reilly (Sinn Féin)