Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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14. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of humanitarian visas provided to persons in Afghanistan; if he plans to increase the number of these visas provided following requests for additional support such as that from frontline defenders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46844/21]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Visas fall under the remit of my colleague the Minister for Justice.  The Government at its meeting earlier this week, approved the introduction of a new Afghanistan admission programme. Under the new programme, current or former Afghan nationals resident in Ireland can apply for close family members in Afghanistan, or who have recently fled Afghanistan to certain countries, to be granted temporary residence in Ireland.

I very much welcome this new proposal from my colleague, the Minister for Justice, which will create a tailored reunification programme and enable Ireland to better respond to the situation in Afghanistan. Up to 500 places will be available under this programme.

The current possibilities for Afghan nationals to be granted permission to enter Ireland will continue in parallel to the new programme. Places have been allocated under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme to approximately 370 Afghan nationals, some 150 of whom have travelled to Ireland. Priority was given to those working on human rights issues, including the rights of women and girls, and minorities, as well as those working with NGOs and European and international organisations.  The operation of this programme is managed by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. 

The Department of Foreign Affairs is, through our diplomatic network liaising with relevant authorities in the region and countries in Europe in relation to transit routes. The Department of Justice is providing practical support by way of issuing visas, or visa waivers, to facilitate travel to Ireland. That Department is also focused on processing applications for Afghan family members of Irish citizens and Afghan nationals living in Ireland.

I understand the Department of Justice is currently reviewing all international protection applications from Afghan nationals with a view to expediting their progress, in line with updated advice provided by UNHCR in recent weeks. These applications are already prioritised, as agreed with UNHCR. The processing of these applications takes full account of whether a person will be in danger if not provided with a permission to remain here.