Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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355. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the European Union Commission’s guidance (details supplied) on border controls given the Russian invasion of Ukraine. [13715/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The EU Commission guidelines the Deputy refers to are intended to assist those Member States bordering Ukraine. The guidance is focused on the measures available to those Member States in order to ensure the effective and efficient management of the crossing of persons fleeing Ukraine through the borders with Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania and to avoid congestions at and around the borders, while maintaining a high level of security for the entire Schengen area.

While we do not have a border with Ukraine, I fully support all efforts to ensure an effective and efficient crossing of all people fleeing Ukraine to seek safety. I welcome the focus on simplifying border control for certain categories of persons, including especially vulnerable persons, such as children and others.

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.

While immigration services and airlines must be satisfied as to the identity of a person presenting at a border, carriers have been asked to accept Government issued identity documents, not usually acceptable for international travel, in lieu of a national passport: including, for example, National ID Cards, Birth Certificates, Internal Passports and expired passports.

The immigration staff of my Department are working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Transport and air carriers on these matters.