Coveney won't get into 'numbers auction' over Afghan refugees

Civilians prepare to board a plane during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021. Picture: Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla/U.S. Marine Corps via AP

Simon Coveney has said the Government will not be drawn into a ‘numbers auction’ when it comes to accepting refugees from Afghanistan, but Ireland has to increase capacity to bring more here.

The Foreign Affairs Minister said six Irish citizens have so far been evacuated from the south Asian country, which has been vanquished by the Taliban in recent days, leading to a mass scramble of people trying to leave the country.