Regina Doherty feels that Ireland should take in more than 200 unaccompanied minors who are stranded in the French port of Calais.
The government’s chief whip said that a cabinet meeting around the subject will take place on Wednesday, but told The Irish Times that she has very definite personal feelings on the matter.
“I think we should do it. I think it’s a no-brainer,” she said. “There are about 1,500 children and young people floating around there, in awful conditions, not knowing what’s going to happen to them.”
She said that the “responsible thing to do” would be to help Britain and France to accommodate the young children, and she hopes that a joint-motion from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael will receive unanimous support next week.
Up to 8,000 migrants have stayed at the makeshift camp in Calais, Northern France, but its demolition has almost been completed with more than 6,000 people – some as young as six-years-old – displaced as a result.
The motion will be circulated to all TDs today and calls on Taoiseach Enda Kenny “to act immediately to ensure the relocation of at least 200 of the unaccompanied children, currently living in ’The Jungle’ in Calais, to Ireland.”
There will also be a gathering outside the Dáil at 7pm on Wednesday evening.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
