29 Apr 2015, 17:11
Joint Committee on European Union Affairs to write to the Taoiseach on the matter
29th April 2015
The Joint Committee on European Union Affairs held a special meeting today on the ongoing migration crisis in the Mediterranean.
Peter Sutherland, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for Migration and International Development addressed the Committee, as did the Italian Ambassador; Giovanni Adorni Braccesi Chiassi, and Brian Killoran, Chief Executive of the Immigrant Council of Ireland.
Committee Chair, Dominic Hannigan, TD, said: “Today, the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs heard of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean. The meeting illustrated clearly that Ireland and all EU Member States must be engaged in responding to the refugee crisis.”
“Each of our guests today stressed the severity of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean, as well as the growing Syrian refugee problem. It is incumbent upon the European Union and the wider international community to address this migration crisis and its underlying causes as a matter of urgency. Our speakers today reminded the Joint Committee of the moral obligation that EU states have in assisting in the provision of asylum to those people fleeing war, poverty and persecution in their home countries.”
“There were repeated calls for further solidarity between EU member states in their response. There is no simple solution to this crisis, but the Joint Committee on EU Affairs is committed to assisting the Government in its engagement with Europe on this matter. Following our discussion today, we will be submitting a proposal to the Taoiseach for his consideration as a matter of priority.”
ENDS
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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)