Ireland set to take migrants coming to EU illegally

Ireland will likely opt-in to EU arrangements to take a specific number of migrants who come to Europe illegally, to help take the pressure off frontline states such as Italy.

The move would need Government and Oireachtas agreement as we have an opt-out from EU asylum rules.

But before the final decision is made, Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald said she wants to see the details that would include how many would be taken over a two-year period. “I believe this is an unprecedented human crisis and I believe the Irish people would want to respond but the details would have to be worked out,” she said on her way into a meeting with her EU colleagues in Luxembourg.