Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis in Gaza and my Department is working closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to ensure a coordinated national response to this volatile and evolving situation. This includes their work to evacuate Irish citizens and their families who may require visa assistance.

My Department is in regular contact with the Embassy of Ireland in Israel regarding a number of visa applications, from residents of Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. The Embassy are actively engaging with the applicants to gather the required documents to ensure that the Visa Division of this Department have everything needed progress these applications.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1085. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality with regard to the increasingly urgent conflict situation in Sudan, if she introduced, or will consider introducing options such as stamp zero, temporary visas or other pathways to reunite Sudanese/Irish citizens or residents with their immediate relatives with agreed-upon guarantees that would ensure they will not become a burden on the State. [1222/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I understand that this is a difficult situation for our Sudanese community and their loved ones. My Department has assisted the Department of Foreign Affairs in their work to evacuate Irish citizens and their families from Sudan. Where necessary, we are continuing to work closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs on a case by case basis assisting any remaining Irish citizens who are evacuating Sudan with their family.

It is open to the persons affected who have family members here to apply for a visa. Due to the unrest in Khartoum the office of Ireland’s Honorary Consul is currently inaccessible. Where possible visa applicants should engage with the nearest available Irish Embassy who can give further information on specific cases. Emergency visa applications will be dealt with on a case by case basis but will, wherever possible, be processed speedily. It is important to say that all current immigration avenues remain open for new applications, including Stamp 0, visa and family reunification applications.