Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity)
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439. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will ensure that persons who are in Ukraine who are not Ukrainian nationals regardless of their legal status in Ukraine will be given access to the State; if she will raise the issue of non-Ukrainians and undocumented persons in Ukraine seeking to leave Ukraine at European Union level to ensure they are able to leave the country if they so wish; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12389/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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On 25 February, I announced the immediate lifting of visa requirements between Ukraine and Ireland.

This has streamlined and supported 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 applies as an emergency measure to all Ukrainians travelling to Ireland and is a humanitarian response to the rapidly evolving situation in Ukraine.

In addition, the EU Temporary Protection Directive has now been activated in response to the Ukraine crisis. Ireland participates in this measure, which has been given legal effect under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015. 

Those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine will generally be eligible for this temporary protection, initially for one year and on a renewable basis. It will provide beneficiaries with immediate access to the labour market, along with access to social welfare, accommodation and other State supports. 

My officials have also been working with colleagues in other Departments and through the air carriers to ensure the protection of family rights for any person who is encompassed by the Temporary Protection Directive, and who is of a nationality that normally requires a visa to come to Ireland.   This situation remains under active review.

A whole-of-Government response is being mobilised to implement the practical arrangements to give effect to these commitments. 

Beneficiaries will be provided with their permission letter on arrival in the State to ensure early access to all necessary supports. My Department is working urgently to put a system in place to issue them for people arriving into Dublin Airport, and arrangements will be put in place as soon as possible to provide letters to those who arrived in recent days. 

Arrangements for the registration of the permission and the collection of the information necessary for same will follow. As this is a crisis situation, the normal registration procedures for long term residents in Ireland will not apply.  All necessary steps will be taken to ensure that the process is as simple and stress-free as possible. 

My Government colleagues and I will also continue to work with our EU counterparts on any further EU-wide measures that might be needed to assist those fleeing Ukraine.