Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The figures I have available show that at present, there are 35 Palestinian students registered with Irish universities in the academic year 2022-23. All are undertaking postgraduate studies, with a quarter in UCD. A question has been asked before about the different between the Palestinian students and the Ukrainian students. As the Deputy will be aware, the EU temporary protection directive was activated by the EU Council in 2022 following the invasion by Russia of Ukraine. It was on that basis, to comply with the directive, that the decision was made by the Department at that time, so there is a subtle difference. I am aware of the point the Deputy is making. However, if there are individual circumstances she is aware of with regard to particular students, she can share them with me rather than raising them on the floor of the Dáil.

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