Written answers

Tuesday, 22 March 2022

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ukraine War

Photo of Cian O'CallaghanCian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats)
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389. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the supports that Ireland will provide to the Moldovan Government to help it with supporting refugees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14255/22]

Photo of Colm BrophyColm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Moldova's response to the crisis has been very impressive under extremely difficult circumstances.

The €20 million Irish Aid humanitarian package responding to the Ukraine crisis includes to support to Ukrainian refugees in neighbouring countries, including Moldova. €5 million of the Irish Aid package is allocated to the UNHCR inter-agency Regional Response Plan (RPP) for the Ukraine crisis, which in turn has allocated a fifth of its overall budget to Moldova and where UNHCR has opened an office. €1 million of our contribution is earmarked directly for Moldova.

Ireland is also providing €1.5million to UNFPA, whose work in Moldova focuses on the protection of women and girls.

Many of Ireland’s humanitarian partners are expanding their activities to help the Moldovan government cope with the influx of refugees. The humanitarian package also includes a €1 million grant to the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC), which is also supporting the local response via the Moldovan Red Cross.

Ireland has also contributed to the inter-agency Regional Response Plan through Irish Aid core funding to key participating organisations, including UNICEF, IOM, UNDP, UNHCR, UNFPA, WFP, WHO and the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF). We encourage all our humanitarian partners to use their core funding to respond to the Ukraine humanitarian crisis including by supporting neighbouring countries.

The EU has also announced a rapid assistance package of €500 million to help civilians affected by the conflict. This will include support to the inter-agency RRP and additional funding of €5 million to Moldova in the European Commission’s revised Humanitarian Implementation Plan (HIP). 

Photo of Gerald NashGerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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390. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will confirm, given the temporary closure of the Embassy of Ireland to Ukraine, that all locally employed staff and contractors, and the relevant members of their families, were offered passage to Ireland and international protection here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14301/22]

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Since the illegal, unprovoked and unjustified further invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces on 24 February, Ireland has stood in unwavering solidarity with the people and government of Ukraine.

Visa requirements for Ukrainian citizens wishing to travel to Ireland have been lifted since 25 February. This allows all Ukrainian nationals considering leaving Ukraine, including locally employed staff at the Embassy in Kyiv and relevant members of their families, to enter Ireland without a visa, if they judge it safe to travel.

In advance of the temporary closure of the Embassy in Kyiv, contingency arrangements were put in place by the Ambassador, including for local staff employees,  The Department maintains ongoing contact with the local staff employees at the Embassy in Kyiv, currently in safe locations, in identifying individual supports. In addition, regular contact has been established with contractors engaged by the Embassy at the time the crisis broke and they have been informed of the removal of the visa requirement to enter Ireland.  

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