Chernobyl children’s Irish Christmas trip to go ahead

Children from Chernobyl will be able to spend Christmas in Ireland after an agreement was reached with the Belarus Government.

In September of this year, the country introduced a ban on children travelling internationally for recuperation or medical treatment.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin announced this afternoon that a deal has now been reached that will allow children from Chernobyl to come to Ireland.

It means plans to bring over 250 youngsters in time for Christmas can now go ahead.

Adi Roche from the Chernobyl Children's Project said she was absolutely delighted to hear the news.

“Today is like Christmas Day,” she said, “I just can't describe in words how relieved we are.”

“It's been a very protracted negotiation process.

“It's been difficult but the government kept in sight the whole time the objective which was for the rights of children to come to loving families in Ireland for Christmas.”