Public say they want to support refugees

Campaign and voluntary groups believe a grassroots outpouring of shock over the deaths of refugees in the Mediterranean will force a stronger Government response to the crisis.

Jerry O’Connor of the Immigrant Council of Ireland said the public reaction the organisation was witnessing on the ground to the photographs of toddler Aylan Kurki, whose body was found washed up on a beach resort in Turkey, signalled a turning point that could not be ignored.

“We’ve taken a lot of calls and we’ve been following public opinion on social media and it’s clear people feel very strongly and don’t want to wait to be told by Europe what we should do,” said Mr O’Connor.