The Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly has claimed that Ireland will show its humanitarian nature and offer asylum for thousands migrants who are in desperate need to flee war torn states.
Mr Alan Kelly said Ireland’s past history of migration means that we as a nation must fulfill our moral duty and show leadership to the rest of the world. However Mr Kelly stated that he could give a definite number on how many refugees could apply to seek asylum in Ireland, as it has not currently been discussed by the cabinet.
Mr Kelly also strongly denied that the state is only considering the possibility of offering asylum to migrants because of widespread outrage throughout world after the releasing of photographs of a Syrian toddler Aylan Kurdi who tragically drowned whilst fleeing Turkey, Mr Kelly said: “This discussion has been going on in cabinet for a long time, it’s not something that just happened now. “Of course this image is, and by the way there’s obviously a lot more harrowing images as well as that little boy, anyones heart would break to see that image.
The Enviroment Minister added: “I know last night I couldn’t sleep properly, I’ve a three year old son, it’s very harrowing and upsetting.”