Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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65. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to cases of Afghan citizens who had been long-term residents of Ireland and have a large support network here but who do not hold Irish EU visas and who are currently stuck in Kabul; if advice will be provided to anyone in this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46210/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Since the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in August, there has been close international cooperation and coordination on evacuation efforts.  As part of that, I approved the short-term deployment of an Emergency Civil Assistance Team (ECAT), which succeeded in enabling 26 Irish citizens and residents to evacuate safely on 24-26 August.

Since then, my Department has continued to liaise with partners, including those with a presence on the ground, to explore safe options for the exit of Irish citizens and residents – so that they can return home.

Vital to this is the fulfilment of the Taliban commitment to allow the safe, secure, orderly and unhindered departure of foreign nationals and Afghans at-risk who wish to leave the country – in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2593.

The Council of the European Union has also made it clear that this is one of the key benchmarks for any future engagement with the Taliban-appointed caretaker cabinet in Afghanistan.

I know there are many with deep concerns for family members, friends and colleagues who remain in Afghanistan. I can give full assurance that the Government remains strongly committed to doing whatever possible to ensure that people are able to return to Ireland safely.

The Department of Justice is responsible for visas for travel to Ireland, including in cases where people wish to join a family member residing in Ireland. The Department of Justice will be establishing an Afghan Admission Programme. This special programme will enable current or former Afghan nationals living legally in Ireland to apply to have close family members, who are living in Afghanistan or who have recently fled to territories bordering Afghanistan, considered for temporary Irish residence.