I propose to take Questions Nos. 631, 644, 645, 648 and 649 together.
Ireland has always lived up to its international humanitarian obligations and we are fully committed to playing our part in addressing the current migrant crisis facing Europe.
The Government is committed to working at European level to find sustainable solutions to the migration crisis. This humanitarian crisis is an EU issue which requires a coordinated EU response and I have made it clear to our European partners that Ireland will work closely and collaboratively with them in this regard.
As part of the Government's response to the crisis, I brought proposals to Government which were considered and agreed at a special Cabinet meeting on 10 September. A multifaceted approach is being adopted including the following measures:
- establishing the Irish Refugee Protection Programme which will provide international protection for up to 4,000 persons overall under Resettlement and Relocation Programmes. It is expected that these numbers will be augmented by further family reunifications. The first arrivals under the Programme are expected by year end. The number of persons in need of international protection will be kept under review;
- establishing a new cross-departmental Taskforce, chaired by my Department, to deal with the operational and logistical aspects of the support programme. The Taskforce, which has already had its first meeting, will adopt a whole of Government approach and will work with NGOs, religious bodies, local authorities and the Red Cross to implement the Government's response to this crisis;
- engaging with the public on their pledges of support. The Red Cross will lead this task;
- establishing a network of Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres for the initial reception of those arriving under the relocation programme;
- introduce the International Protection Bill as a major priority; and
- providing an additional package of processing resources to deal with major increases in asylum and other immigration cases, including the relocation measure, preparation for the Single Protection application process and increased enforcement across a number of areas, including removals.
The resettlement programme for those coming from mostly Lebanon and predetermined as refugees by the UNHCR has already commenced and the first Syrians have arrived. The first group of Relocation asylum seekers from Italy and Greece are expected to arrive later this year. Of the first overall allocation of 40,000 formally approved at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on 14 September 2015, Ireland has agreed to take a total of 600.
Further discussions are ongoing at EU level and I will be attending a further emergency meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council today in advance of an EU Summit to be held tomorrow. At today's meeting it is hoped that agreement at EU level can be reached on the relocation of a further 120,000 asylum seekers from countries in Southern Europe. Ireland has indicated that it will, subject to Oireachtas approval, opt-in to this measure.