asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland will be accepting 400 Indo-Chinese refugees and if so when.

I announced on 22 May that the Government had decided to admit 100 Indo-Chinese refugees to Ireland.

I am not in a position to say when these refugees will enter Ireland. My Department are in contact with the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in order to work out details relating to the selection of refugees and arrangements for their travel to Ireland, and the Irish Red Cross Society have been asked to arrange for a reception centre. I would expect that they will arrive here in the near future.

Has the Minister any tentative plans for the distribution, accommodation and allocation of these refugees? May I compliment him and his Department for accepting these refugees and hope they will accept more?

I do not have the details of the mechanical arrangements. This matter is being delegated to the Irish Red Cross Society and I have the utmost confidence in their ability to handle it.

Could the Minister give more information about the time of arrival of these refugees? When he answered questions on this subject more than a month ago, all Members stressed the urgency of the matter because these refugees are existing in extremely grim conditions.

The Deputy must ask a question.

Will the Minister assure the House that these refugees will be admitted very quickly?

There is no question about that. Arrangements have been made and we are awaiting their arrival.