Ireland needs to live up to its commitments to provide a safe haven for refugees, according to a group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

They say the European Union has been taking too long to act on commitments to resettle thousands of refugees, and has only settled 200 of the 160,000 agreed upon so far.

The group says we should invite 22,000 refugees to come here, far more than the 4,000 the government has currently committed to resettling.

The group has also warned that there will be no military solution to the wars in the Middle East, less than a week after the UK started bombing Islamic State targets in Syria.

Marissa Ryan from Oxfam told Newstalk.com her organisation's staff are reporting trench foot among children staying in European refugee camps. 

Meanwhile, Edel McGinley of the Migrant Rights Centre told Newstalk Breakfast 22,000 refugees, represent just 0.5% of the population:

An emergency meeting of up to 50 business people was held in Dungarvan, Co Waterford last night, over plans by the Department of Justice to locate around 100 refugees in the nearby Clonea Strand Hotel.

Several business people, county councillors and locals say the area is inappropriate for refugees. They voiced concern that their placement at the local tourist spot will have a negative impact on local business.

On man told Newstalk's reporter Shona Murray that he doesn't "like them being housed on my doorstep":

The hotel's website says it is closed this year, but will reopen next May.