Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

157. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will put in place humanitarian admission provisions for persons from Ukraine fleeing the current violence. [12159/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On Friday 25 February, I announced the immediate lifting of visa requirements between Ukraine and Ireland. This will streamline and support the swift exit of both the Ukrainian family members of Irish citizens, and the family members of people from Ukraine who are resident in Ireland.

It will also apply as an emergency measure to all Ukrainians travelling to Ireland and is a humanitarian response to the rapidly evolving situation in Ukraine. 

People who are considering leaving Ukraine and travelling to Ireland may for the coming period do so without a visa if they judge it safe to travel. Those who travel to Ireland without a visa during this period will then have 90 days after arrival to regularise their position. 

I will attend a further meeting of the EU JHA Council meeting on Thursday where the proposal for activating the Temporary Directive will be discussed. This is an emergency provision designed to quickly and humanely respond to the mass displacement of Ukrainian people by Russian aggression and this is expected to be a more appropriate mechanism in this instance than a humanitarian programme.

Ireland has acted swiftly and compassionately to demonstrate our support and solidarity with the Ukranian people and my Department continues to work closely with colleagues across Government  to ensure a coordinated national response.

Any measures introduced will be kept under review and the Government will continue to work with our EU colleagues on any further EU-wide measures that might assist those fleeing Ukraine.