Check Against Delivery
I would like to thank you, Mr President, for inviting Ireland to participate in today’s summit. Your initiative provides a vital opportunity for the international community to consider its response to the global refugee crisis.
Effective responses are necessarily global in nature. They involve conflict prevention and changes to international trade. Development aid and poverty prevention may also help to give large numbers of people viable futures in their own homeplaces.
A renewed international focus on human rights may also play its part. Action to end inequality and prejudice against women, LGBTI people, or against ethnic or religious minorities may turn a potential refugee into someone with a future in his or her own homeland.
Ireland stands ready to participate in international initiatives to develop global approaches to tackling the factors creating the current refugee crisis.
Ireland is also strongly aware of its international responsibilities to refugees. Like others here today, we are appalled at the misery, danger and loss of life involved.
Sustainable solutions are needed for refugees worldwide. It's not just food and shelter. That's just the beginning - and an important beginning - but we must move quickly on to medium and longer term needs like education. Ireland’s humanitarian response is focused on where needs are greatest, particularly on those affected by the most severe crises, especially protracted and forgotten emergencies.
The core objective of our humanitarian assistance is to save and protect lives, alleviate suffering and maintain human dignity.
In 2015, Ireland's humanitarian assistance totalled approximately €140m. Our response to the Syria crisis, the largest global humanitarian crisis today, will exceed €62 million by the end of 2016. As our economy grows, we hope to be able to do more.
We also support humanitarian efforts in the Mediterranean. Since May 2015, Ireland has deployed 5 successive Irish Naval Service vessels on humanitarian search and rescue operations. To date, more than 10,000 people have been rescued.
We are and will be bringing refugees into Ireland through our new Irish Refugee Protection Programme. We are working to bring to Ireland refugees and asylum seekers currently located in Greece, Italy and Lebanon. Further numbers of refugees will come to Ireland through our family reunification programme. We are also open to bringing people into Ireland through educational assignments.
Much of the focus of international attention is on rescuing refugees from situations of crisis and on providing for their immediate needs. However, the greater commitment has to be to supporting the refugee’s integration in the host country. That process is intensive, sensitive and long-term. It involves not only changes to frontline services but also, and more importantly, changes in attitudes among host populations.
A refugee needs more than a house. A refugee needs a community. If he or she is to feel a sense of belonging in the new society, that society has to be open and ready to welcome, live with, work with and support the refugee. The process of integration is crucial. We have seen the dangers of hardening attitudes within our societies towards strangers. Such attitudes can take root frighteningly easily. At the same time, poor integration processes can result in blighted lives for refugees.
Mr President, I believe that today’s Summit can set a framework for action that encompasses both immediate and longer-term initiatives. International cooperation is key. Ireland looks forward to making its contribution. As a people who have received shelter from others in our moments of crisis, we will not be found wanting in our readiness to help others in need.
Thank you very much.
ENDS