Ossian Smyth (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. I will revert with his comments to the official, who may be watching right now. If he has not heard this, I will revert to him with the Senator’s comments about the urgency of this particular case.

The Minister recognises the importance of international protection recipients and residents in Ireland from outside the EEA having their family members reunited with them. To this end, the Department engages where necessary with applicants for family reunification to ensure they have every opportunity to meet the requirements that are in place. As has already been outlined, alternative avenues for family reunification are available under the Department’s policy document on non-EEA family reunification, which is currently under review. The guidelines for the processing of long-stay family applications are set out in the policy document and there is information to assist people in making applications on the Department of Justice website.

On my behalf, and on behalf of the Minister, Deputy McEntee, I want to again express sympathy for what must be a very difficult situation for our Palestinian community and for their loved ones. I reiterate that the Department is open for all new visa and family reunification applications. I want to assure the Senator that the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Department’s officials are committed to taking a pragmatic and sympathetic approach when it comes to visas to reunite family members of Irish families.