Frances Fitzgerald and Katherine Zappone to tour Greek refugee camps

Two Government ministers will “have a first-hand opportunity to see the scale of suffering” caused by the EU’s Mediterranean refugee crisis when they visit Greece in the coming days, according to Amnesty Ireland executive director Colm O’Gorman.

He made his comment after it emerged Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Children’s Minister Katherine Zappone are to tour a number of refugee camps next weekend. As part of the trip, Ms Fitzgerald will meet officials from the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, who are interviewing up to 80 asylum seekers in Athens every month for re-location to this country.

During the visit, which will last from Sunday to Tuesday, the Tánaiste is also expected to meet with unaccompanied children and members of the persecuted Azidi community.