Written answers

Tuesday, 5 April 2022

Department of Justice and Equality

International Protection

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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612. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of international protection applicants awaiting the issuance of a temporary residence certificate in card form and not the paper document; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17996/22]

Photo of Catherine ConnollyCatherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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613. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons awaiting a preliminary interview further to section 13 of the International Protection Act 2015; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17997/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 612 and 613 together.

The overall objective of my Department is to have recommendations made on international protection applications as soon as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of protection from the State can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security.

For the sake of clarity, I should firstly explain that anyone who wishes to make an application for international protection must proactively do so on their own behalf and on behalf of any of their minor family members. If they apply initially at their port of entry to the State they will still need to make a formal application at the Dublin offices of the International Protection Office (IPO) of my Department. There is no need to make an appointment. Everyone completes their preliminary interview under Section 13 of the International Protection Act 2015 on the day they first attend the IPO offices. Therefore, there are no applicants waiting for a preliminary interview.

Applicants will generally receive the Temporary Residence Certificate on the same day they complete their application if there is no language barrier and if the number of applications the IPO received on that given day is not excessively high.

If an interpreter is required to assist them or for other reasons beyond the control of the IPO, the applicant may need to be called back to complete their application. The call back appointment is usually arranged quickly, unless there is a difficulty with sourcing an interpreter for the required language.

In recent months, the number of people claiming international protection has increased significantly with approximately 1,041 new applications received in the month of March alone. This has unfortunately impacted the IPO’s ability to complete an application and issue TRC cards on the same day to applicants. There are currently approximately 1,200 applicants who need to return to complete their applications.

The IPO is identifying what practical efficiencies can be made to the process and is putting in place measures to ensure that the normal service is resumed as quickly as possible for the benefit of applicants.

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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614. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the way that information on the different vocations of Ukrainian citizens arriving in Ireland will be collated and made available to various sectors that wish to help in fast-tracking mutual qualification recognition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18074/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that, as Minister for Justice, I do not have responsibility for the issue of mutual qualification recognition. The Deputy may wish to raise this matter directly with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Science and Innovation.

There is a coordinated whole-of-Government response to support people arriving in Ireland who have fled the violence in Ukraine. Government Departments and services are working together to implement Ireland's commitments under the EU Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55/EC), which has been activated for the first time to grant temporary protection to displaced persons from Ukraine.

The Directive has legal effect under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015.

Those eligible for Temporary Protection (granted initially for one year, but renewable) will have immediate access to the labour market, social welfare, accommodation and other State supports as necessary. A whole-of-Government response is being mobilised to implement the practical arrangements to give effect to these commitments.

My Department is primarily responsible for issuing temporary protection documents to those who are eligible. As of 4 April 2022, more than 18,600 people that have arrived in Ireland and my Department has issued more than 15,600 temporary protection permission letters.

Beneficiaries are being provided with their permission letter on arrival at Dublin Airport in the 'one-stop-shop' established by my Department for that purpose, to ensure early access to all necessary supports. Arrangements have also been put in place to provide permission letters to those who arrived at Dublin Airport prior to 9 March (when permission letters started to issue) and to those who have arrived at other ports of entry to the State.

I can assure the Deputy that my Government colleagues and I will continue to work with our EU counterparts on any further EU-wide measures that might be needed to assist those fleeing Ukraine.

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