David Stanton, Fine Gael TD for Cork East and Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality today addressed the Immigrant Council of Ireland conference – “A Call to Action and Unity: Forming Ireland’s Response to the Refugee and Migration Crisis” – which brought together representatives of Government, NGOs and the academic sector.
Speaking at the conference, Minister Stanton reiterated Ireland’s commitment to playing its part in efforts to address the ongoing migration crisis. He noted, in particular, that Ireland had made a commitment to admit 4,000 people under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) and had voluntarily opted in to two EU Relocation Decisions. As part of the IRPP, Ireland has pledged to admit 520 programme refugees under the EU Resettlement programme.
The Minister said “We are on track to fulfil our commitments under the EU resettlement programme a full year ahead of target. In terms of the resettlement programme, we have already admitted 273 individuals this year and a further 247 refugees will arrive by September.
“Ireland is working hard to give thousands of refugees the chance of a new life here. By the end of the Summer, under both the relocation and resettlement schemes, we will have admitted some 551 individuals, who would otherwise have remained in the most grave of conditions.”
Minister Stanton restated Ireland’s commitment to relocate more than 2,600 people by the end of 2017 and indicated that Ireland was working actively to bring people here as quickly as possible.
Commenting on wider efforts towards resolving the current refugee crisis, Minister Stanton stated that “By the end of 2015, a total of €41 million had been provided by Ireland towards assisting those displaced as a result of the Syrian crisis, including through participation in a Regional Development and Protection Programme in the Middle East.
