All-party push for full Dáil debate after agency’s plea

Dáil time is to be sought for a full debate on the refugee crisis after a plea by the head of the GOAL aid agency.

The Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee is to approach government and opposition party whips for agreement on debate time.

The move came after GOAL chief executive Barry Andrews told the committee they were wrong if they thought the parliament of a small country could not influence the international response to the crisis. He said Syria’s leaders were emboldened by the inaction of the international community.