Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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28. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 39 of 23 April 2024, for a status update on the number of people currently in Gaza who have permission to remain in Ireland, or who have a visa to live, study or work in Ireland; the steps being taken by her Department to assist them in exiting Gaza; the details of her Department’s engagement with the Department of Foreign Affairs in this regard since October 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26521/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am acutely aware of the grave humanitarian crisis unfolding before us in Gaza.

My Department is working closely with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs 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.

The Embassy of Ireland in Israel is actively engaging with the applicants to gather the required documents to ensure that the Visa Division of this Department have everything needed to progress these applications. My Department will ensure that visa applications for immediate family members are, wherever possible, processed speedily and sympathetically.

Since last October, my Department has issued over 100 visas to Palestinian nationals permitting them to come to live in Ireland. The vast majority of these applications were to join spouses, children and parents living in Ireland. I understand that a small number of Irish citizens or immediate dependants of Irish citizens remain in Gaza. The Tánaiste and his Department continues to advocate with the authorities in relation to those who have not yet been able to leave, including the immediate dependants of Irish citizens.

A person who has a valid immigration permission to reside in Ireland does not need a visa to re-enter the State and they do not have to inform my Department if they leave the State. The Deputy will appreciate this prevents my Department from giving an estimation of on the number of people currently in Gaza that may have permission to live in Ireland.

I am advised that the Department of Foreign Affairs is very limited in the assistance that it can provide to individuals in Gaza who are not Irish citizens or immediate dependents accompanying Irish citizens. The decision to permit or refuse exit from Gaza is made by the relevant authorities on the ground. In this context, I am however aware that the Department of Foreign Affairs was able to assist a small number of student visa holders to request the necessary clearance to exit Gaza as they travelled to Ireland to take-up or continue their studies.