by Alan Jacques
IRELAND’S reputation as a caring and compassionate country is at risk if the Government continues to drag its feet on a comprehensive response to the migrant crisis in Europe.
That’s the opinion of Limerick TD Willie O’Dea who is now calling on the Irish Government and the European Union to take urgent action after what he describes as “months of procrastination”.
The Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Social Protection believes that the tragic deaths last week in Turkey of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi and his five-year-old brother Galip have to be the catalyst for every country in the EU to make an extra effort to ease this horrific humanitarian crisis.
He also wants the Taoiseach to confirm that the government will allow the Irish Navy to continue to assist in operations in the Mediterranean Sea beyond the deadline of October.
“Some months ago, Peter Sutherland, the UN Special Representative on Migration, pleaded with the Irish government to do more and his pleas fell on deaf ears,” said Deputy O’Dea.
“Europe needs a comprehensive response to the migrant crisis that addresses the need to house and relocate migrants but that also begins to address the destabilisation of countries in the Middle East and north Africa. The Irish Navy is playing an important role and saving thousands of lives in the Mediterranean Sea but Ireland can and should be doing much more to help ease the crisis,” he added.
Deputy O’Dea maintains that lessons need to be learned from the Second World War.
“These families are predominantly war refugees from Syria. They are risking their lives to try to get to another country to live normally and raise their children in a safe and secure environment. They are crossing land and sea in a desperate cry for help. Ireland and Europe cannot ignore it any longer and as Mr Sutherland said ‘Europe has a brief chance to rescue its integrity’.”
