Ireland urged to take in more refugees

Ireland has been urged to take in “several thousand” people fleeing across the Mediterranean to Europe amid growing calls for urgent EU talks to address the escalating migrant crisis.

Trócaire executive director Eamonn Meehan said if the Government did not act, Ireland will have “abandoned the people of Syria” as Germany, France, and Britain all said EU leaders must meet to draw up a new plan - an issue which is threatening to split the coalition.

Responding to the latest tragedies involving 71 decomposed bodies found in an abandoned van in Austria and the sinking of a boat carrying 200 people off the coast of Libya last Friday, Mr Meehan accepted that Ireland has undertaken “very positive” work in rescue missions.