The Tánaiste says the Irish Government aims to aid the reunification of refugee families who have become separated.

Ireland has committed to taking in 4,000 of the displaced people, including people currently in camps in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon.

Speaking to The Right Hook, Tánaiste Joan Burton said Ireland “will probably initially over the first two years take about 2000 people – and some of those people will come from the people who are in the camps in Lebanon and in Jordan and in Turkey.

“If parents have become separated from children or sisters and brothers have become separated. It will allow for some family reunification.”

The refusal of wealthy Gulf nations to take refugees has been a contentious points, and a particular point of argument for those opposed to Europe refugee strategy.

The Tánaiste said she feels “rich countries in the Middle East like Saudi Arabia have a role to play as well and they also have a role to play in terms of support coming from those rich countries ... for those people who are currently living in dire circumstances.”

When George Hook put it to Ms Burton that there was an incompatibility with the reality of Ireland having hundreds of homeless families whiles also welcoming refugees who will need housing, the Tánaiste replied that the strategy for housing refugees is focused on finding non-traditional accommodation in locations such as army barracks.

“At the moment what we’re doing is looking at army barracks,” she said. 

“There are a couple of army barracks that are vacant.”

Integration of refugees into Irish society is crucial, Ms Burton said, and there will be a drive to ensure refugees arriving in Ireland will learn English so they can participate in Irish society and enter the workforce.

“When people come to Ireland the key thing we have to do is get people to learn English or Irish as quickly as possible so the people who have skills can get jobs,” she said.

EU ministers today on Tuesday to distribute refugees across the continent with a quota system. Four nations voted against the measure - Slovakia, Romania, Hungary and the Czech Republic. The plan will see refugees currently in Italy, Greece and Hungary sent to nations across Europe.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said his country should "reconsider its relationship with Russia" in light of Europe's response to the refugee crisis.

The Tánaiste also discussed Ireland homeless crisis, rural crime and

Listen to the Right Hook interview with Tánaiste Joan Burton in full below