Public to play part in refugee welcome

The public are being assured they will get to play their part in welcoming refugees as the Government prepares to make formal commitments to the EU on the country’s intake today.

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald will tell a meeting of the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels that Ireland will take 3,500 of the 160,000 people stuck in makeshift camps mainly in Greece, Italy, and Hungary after their flight from Syria and other conflict countries. That is on top of the 520 coming from United Nations camps outside Europe.