Varadkar Proposes Financial Aid in Exchange for Refugee Resettlement..
Dublin: Prime Minister Leo Varadkar has emphasised Ireland’s readiness to provide financial support to other European countries to prevent further refugee inflows into the nation. Varadkar pointed out that Ireland’s capacity to accept additional refugees is constrained, given the challenges of accommodating those already residing in the country.
Speaking at a two-day summit of the European Political Community in Granada, attended by 47 leaders from both EU and non-EU states, Varadkar underscored Ireland’s willingness to contribute financially to fellow EU member states rather than directly accepting refugees as part of the new migration agreement.
This new agreement empowers EU nations facing significant migrant arrivals to seek assistance from other member states. Assistance may come in the form of financial aid or the actual resettlement of migrants.
Varadkar stated, “Ireland has already provided refuge to a substantial number of individuals in the past year, including 100,000 from Ukraine and various other regions. Consequently, we are currently grappling with significant challenges as a nation. Our available resources, including housing facilities, are strained.”
He further noted, “Our criteria for accepting refugees align with the standards upheld by other European Union nations. Ireland remains committed to supporting the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to the European Union.”
The primary objective is cost reduction.
Prime Minister Leo Varadkar articulated a highly strategic stance during the summit. He underscored that refugees could be accommodated in certain European countries at a fraction of the cost compared to providing housing and social security in Ireland. Ireland currently offers the most generous social security allowances in Europe. However, a significant number of undocumented immigrants choose to arrive in Ireland instead of other countries with similar opportunities. This has raised questions, and it appears that the government is increasingly aware of this situation. As a result, Ireland is exploring the possibility of entering into contractual agreements with other countries to address this issue.
Meeting with Sunak
In a separate meeting, Varadkar engaged in bilateral discussions with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who was also in attendance at the summit. This meeting marked the second encounter between Varadkar and Sunak, both of Indian origin, since Varadkar’s reinstatement as Prime Minister in December of the previous year.
Irish Samachar English News
Kindly click the link below to join WhatsApp group chat to get important news and breaking news from Irish Samachar.
Comments are closed.