Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator. Ireland has consistently condemned the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza and continues to urge all parties to do everything possible to support efforts under way to reach agreement on a new ceasefire and hostage release deal.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including Irish embassies and consulates worldwide, provides consular assistance to Irish citizens who get into difficulty abroad, in accordance with its consular assistance charter. The provision of consular assistance to Irish citizens is a cornerstone of the work of the Department.

I am acutely aware the situation in Gaza is appalling and deteriorating and I appreciate that those with a student scholarship for a higher educational institution in Ireland are desperate to take up their positions in the coming academic year. Ireland, as the Senator knows, has continued to steadfastly advocate for an urgent end to hostilities and for unimpeded humanitarian access. Ireland will continue to advocate on this matter on the international stage.

I appreciate the sentiments that have prompted the Senator to raise this matter but, as she will appreciate, the Department is extremely limited in its ability to provide consular assistance to non-Irish citizens. As she may be aware, exit from Gaza is dependent on receipt of permission from the relevant local authorities, both in Israel and, in certain circumstances, in neighbouring jurisdictions. Such permissions are outside the control of the Government of Ireland. Moreover, visa-required nationals wishing to travel to Ireland must apply to the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration for a visa. Each visa application is reviewed in accordance with Irish legislation. Officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including in the Irish Embassy in Israel and the representative office of Ireland in Ramallah, have provided advice and guidance to individuals on these requirements over many months. Since the beginning of the crisis in Gaza, that Department has supported 153 persons to leave Gaza and travel to Ireland, including a small number of students. Where necessary, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been in direct contact with the Department of justice, but the overall responsibility for engaging with the Department of justice on visa matters rests with the individuals themselves.

This morning, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Harris, confirmed that nine Palestinian students had safely left Gaza yesterday and are due to arrive in Ireland today. They will take up scholarships for the 2025-26 academic year under the Government's Ireland-Palestine scholarship programme, which is supported through Irish Aid. The students will be supported by the Irish Council of International Students and the managing agency for the Ireland fellows programme in anticipation of their courses starting in September. Three other Ireland-Palestine scholarship fellows were supported to leave Gaza in April of this year, having been unable to exit in 2024. We also look forward to further fellows from the West Bank arriving in September. Currently, eight Ireland-Palestine scholarship fellows from Gaza from the 2024 intake are completing their master's degrees .

There are currently no plans to operate evacuation flights from Gaza. All Irish citizens who remain in Gaza and have contacted the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade seeking assistance have been offered the opportunity to leave, but for a variety of personal reasons they have chosen to remain. I assure the Senator the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade stands ready to assist all Irish citizens who remain in Gaza.