Confusion over State offer to shelter refugees

Fresh confusion surrounds the Government’s response to the refugee crisis after Tánaiste Joan Burton said Ireland would take in 5,000 Syrians under the UN’s resettlement programme.

The solo run by Ms Burton would commit the country to taking in almost 10 times the number already agreed with the UN which has only asked for 520 Syrians to be resettled here.

Ms Burton also insisted the new arrivals would not be accommodated under the widely condemned direct provision system, yet that is the only system in place to cater for them.