Migration set to escalate - Prepare now

IT is impossible to say that the 649 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean by LÉ Eithne and her crew since the vessel left Cork 19 days ago, would not have survived had the vessel not been in the area.

It is certain though that those unfortunate and destitute people are very glad that they did not have to put that theory to the test and that they were delighted that the ship was on hand.

The navy can be proud of its work in the region, a continuation of the peacekeeping work undertaken by the Irish army under the United Nations flag for many years.

The real message is in the figures though. That so many people are prepared to run the gauntlet between North Africa and Europe, often in dangerous, unseaworthy craft, gives some indication of the scale of the problem. Some people have argued that we cannot do more to help resolve what is after all an African problem. Not only does that seem crass and inhuman it also seems stupid. Migration will continue and probably escalate as time goes by. The only question that remains is how will we plan for that inevitability.