Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have been looking at that particular case and I have the details referred to by the Deputy. In this case, the Palestinian family previously lived in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. They are unwilling to return to Gaza as the medical needs of the children cannot be met there. The only way a UNHCR refugee can be admitted to Ireland is through its formal resettlement programme. I do not believe individual appeals outside that process can be favourably considered, but there are established mechanisms for the resettlement of refugees, including those with health issues. There are many refugees around the world in similar circumstances.

I want to advert to the formal UNHCR resettlement programme from Lebanon, which allows for the intake of refugees using objective criteria not based on any favouritism or subjective consideration. The only routes through which this family may be considered would be through UNHCR resettlement, which is from Lebanon, or perhaps through the new family reunification humanitarian admission programme, FRHAP, to which I referred, in the event of their having eligible family members in Ireland.

I do not have an immediate favourable response for the Deputy, and if there is any way we could have a look at the situation in Lebanon, that may well be a positive avenue. I regret it is not possible for me to intervene under the current circumstances.

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