600 out of 40,000 refugees to be relocated to Ireland as part of EU plan – Hayes

Fine Gael Dublin MEP, Brian Hayes has welcomed the news that Ireland will take part in the EU plan to relocate up to 40,000 refugees as part of the EU’s response to the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean. Yesterday (Monday), Ireland agreed to take 600.

“On the 1^st May, I called on Europe and Ireland to do more than just help the Italian government secure its border. Asylum seekers in the Mediterranean are not a matter for some countries. They are a challenge to all European countries including Ireland.

 “Italy and Greece have borne the brunt of the refugee crisis in the Mediterranean. For a wealthy country like Ireland which has taken relatively few asylum seekers by comparison to other similar sized countries, this is a progressive step forward.

“There cannot be an open border policy. I’m happy there will be a full security check and that there will be an opportunity to take people’s preferences into account as well as wider suitability, like language skills before deciding on whether to relocate them to Ireland. The EU needs to work together to accommodate asylum seekers in the best way possible. All Member States need to play a part.”