Plan to give Ireland share of refugees ‘acceptable’

A plan that would see EU countries being allocated a share of 20,000 refugees in the next year may be acceptable to Ireland according to Finance Minister Michael Noonan.

Ireland, together with Denmark and Britain, has opted out of the EU’s asylum system but it is unclear whether the countries could also opt out of these proposals, which are due to be released tomorrow.

Irish ministers including Europe Minister Dara Murphy and Tánaiste Joan Burton gave it a guarded welcome but said they would have to see the final details and it would be largely a matter for the Department of Justice.