Noel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)

I thank the Senator for bringing this matter regarding the process for family reunification in respect of the families under the Gaza medical initiative. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, who unfortunately could not be here this morning.

First, on my behalf and on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, I express our sympathies to all the Palestinian people for the difficult circumstances they are encountering. There is no justification for the devastating loss of life and the attacks on civilians and healthcare services in Gaza. I am advised by the Minister that his Department is acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza, and his officials are working closely with their colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure a co-ordinated national response to this volatile and evolving situation. This includes their work to evacuate Irish citizens and their families who may require visa assistance.

Ireland has a strong tradition of providing humanitarian assistance. The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has been supporting the Minister for Health and the HSE in facilitating the evacuation of paediatric patients in line with the Government decision to accept up to 30 paediatric patients from Gaza and their carers, in response to the World Health Organization's request to react to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Department of Health and the HSE continue to lead on future medical evacuation operations and will bring all actors together again in the response.

Medical evacuation operations are extraordinarily difficult. Ireland has carried out two successful medical evacuations of 12 paediatric patients out of the commitment of up to 30 patients, with 12 carers and a further 21 family members accompanying the patients.All the family members have been medically assessed and are being treated for a range of conditions as necessary.

On 15 July 2025, the Government amended the scope of the Gaza medical evacuation initiative to allow family members of paediatric patients who are parents, minor siblings or adult dependent siblings of the patient, on grant of visas, to enter the State. This decision not only applies to future medical evacuation operations but also to the families already here who have qualifying family members still in Gaza. The Minister, Deputy Jim O’Callaghan, assures me that he appreciates that those who have been medically evacuated are eager for their family members to join them in Ireland. It remains the Department’s policy that the families brought to Ireland under the Gaza medical evacuation initiative should not be separated. I am advised by the Minister that his Department will swiftly consider all applications from Gaza on a case-by-case basis. The Irish Red Cross has offered to assist families in Ireland to apply for entry visas for their family members still in Gaza. We are committed to supporting the evacuation of the remaining children with their families. The officials of the Minister, Deputy O’Callaghan, officials are working closely with the Department of Health regarding future arrivals who are expected later in the year. While the Department can grant visas for eligible family members to travel to Ireland, it is not in a position to provide practical assistance to family members who are seeking evacuation directly from Gaza.