Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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169. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on her meeting with European Union counterparts in relation to the Ukrainian refugee crisis. [13297/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that I attended an extraordinary meeting of Interior/Home Affairs Ministers on 27 February 2022, which was called to discuss the escalating situation in Ukraine.

The main focus of that meeting was on the activation of Council Directive 2001/55/EC (Temporary Protection Directive) to grant temporary protection to the mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine. It was agreed that a proposal for a Council Decision to activate the measure would be added to the agenda of the Justice and Home Affairs Council scheduled to take place on 3 and 4 March 2022.

At the JHA Council, Home Affairs Ministers unanimously approved the decision to activate the Temporary Protection Directive with the measure subsequently being adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council on 4 March, and coming into force on that date. As part of the wider discussions, Ministers communicated via videoconference with the Minister of Interior of Ukraine and the Vice Minister.

Ireland participates in this EU measure, which has been given legal effect under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015.

Those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine will 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.

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.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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170. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will engage with her Northern Ireland Executive colleagues and the UK government in relation to the challenges the Border poses to Ukrainian refugees looking to unite with family members north and south. [13299/22]

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. 

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 has put in place a system to issue them for people arriving into Dublin Airport from today, 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.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. The Council Decision to activate the Directive was adopted on 4 March (EU 2022/382).

The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on the arrangements for Ukrainian nationals seeking to avail of residency or international protection in other jurisdictions, including the UK and Northern Ireland. Immigration arrangements for those seeking permission to reside in Northern Ireland are a matter for the Northern Ireland and UK authorities. However, there is regular ongoing engagement between Irish and UK authorities on all immigration related matters.