Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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337. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his Department will grant refugee status to Afghan nationals who are employed by Irish companies operating in Afghanistan. [3569/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I am acutely conscious of the difficult situation faced by many people in Afghanistan. Sadly, it is not possible to grant refugee status to all of those currently in such situations. In this context, my Department has attached priority to vulnerability and humanitarian needs and has focused on granting refugee status to the following categories of Afghan nationals:

- human rights defenders,

- women and girls at risk,

- those working for NGOs,

- members of LGBTI community,

- members of the legal and journalist professions,

- and others whose lives are at risk.

Applications for refugee status will continue to be assessed on this basis.