Peter Barry
Ceist:75 Mr. Barry asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if it is the Government's intention to accept Vietnamese boat people in this country.
Written Answers. - Vietnamese Boat People.
In 1979, the Government, following a major international effort to solve the problem of the "boat-people" from Vietnam, decided to admit about 200 such Vietnamese refugees for settlement in Ireland. Subsequently, in 1981 and 1987 the Government decided to admit certain close relatives of the refugees based on the principle of family reunification. At present there are 413 Vietnamese refugees living in Ireland. A further 17 applications have been approved but the refugees concerned have not yet arrived.