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.

“We managed to get three more Irish citizens out last night (Thursday) - so that is six out now in total. There are 35 Irish citizens including dependents that still need to get out and we are working with our partners to do that,” Mr Coveney said at an event in Cork.

"We managed to work with a German plane that was leaving last night to get three (Irish) citizens on. We are working with our French, British and German counterparts as well. That is ongoing.

"We are looking at ways we can make it easier for Irish citizens to get into the airport complex. We are keeping in close contact with them all the time through our embassy in Abu Dhabi who are doing a fantastic job."

Taliban fighters patrol in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 19, 2021. Picture: AP Photo/Rahmat Gul

Mr Coveney said he wants Ireland to do more when it comes to accepting refugees, but would not be drawn into numbers.

“We have committed to just under 200 but we would like to do more. It will be an offer that we will make - we are one of the very few countries in the EU that has offered any specific numbers. It would be wrong to get involved in a numbers auction here."

He said he would like to do more but wants it done in a "structured way".

"We obviously have to increase capacity to bring more people here. There are ways in which capacity can be increased. For example, there is a structure as part of the refugee settlement programme where if people want to accommodate a refugee in their homes with their families, they can do that."

Shiite Muslim men beat themselves with knives attached to chains during a procession to mark Ashoura, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Thursday, Aug. 19, 2020. Picture: AP

Mr Coveney said if families want to contact the Irish Refugee Council (IRC) to volunteer, they can.

“But the State has the primary responsibility here in terms of ensuring that anybody we bring to Ireland as a refugee is properly looked after. That is why we have so far announced a relatively small number of people, around 200. There are 45 so far who have been working with EU institutions in Kabul. They have been given waivers to come to Ireland. On top of that another 150,” he said.

Whatever number of people end up in Ireland, it will make only a small dent, he warned.

"There are millions of people in Afghanistan who feel vulnerable today - this is a country of 38 million people. It is a large country with big cities and large rural areas. Half of its population are women - many of whom have been educated and have been growing up for the past 20 years in a country that was changing for the better in terms of rights and hopes and aspirations for democracy.

"Literally millions of them are wondering what the future holds for them and their daughters. Whether it is 150 or 250 or 500 or 1000 refugees in Ireland it is still only going to be the tip of the iceberg,” he said.

Now in Islamabad in Pakistan after leaving Kabul on Thursday, the Co Meath woman says she hopes to leave for Ireland on Sunday or Monday. Picture: Aoife MacManus/PA Wire

Aoife MacManus, one of the Irish people who managed to escape from Afghanistan during the week, says she expects to be back in Ireland in the coming days.

Now in Islamabad in Pakistan after leaving Kabul on Thursday, the Co Meath woman says she hopes to leave for Ireland on Sunday or Monday.

When her flight took off from Kabul airport, she said it was “a very strange and heavy feeling to think that so many colleagues and friends are there and won't have the opportunity to leave any time soon. I was wondering what's next for them.” 

Ms McManus said she has to stay positive and hopes “that things will settle.” 

"When we were leaving the city, things were much calmer than they had been in the previous days," she said.