Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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1522.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 455 of 8 May 2024, if he will consider a scheme that would assist those Palestinians who have arrived from the West Bank and Gaza, similar to the help that was offered to the Ukrainian nationals; and if he will ensure that an asylum case for a person (details supplied) is expedited, ensuring they are granted the right to work, as should all Palestinians who have arrived here from Gaza and the West Bank. [31966/24]

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.

In line with the confidentiality provisions of the International Protection Act, if an application for international protection has been made in the State, it is not the practice to comment on such applications. The applicant or their designated legal advisor can contact the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) directly, as appropriate, for an update on the status of their application.

Both the International Protection Office (IPO) and the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) are fully independent in deciding whether or not to grant international protection. Each application is examined individually on its own merits, in line with national and international asylum law.

While all immigration schemes are kept under constant review, currently, there are no plans to introduce a new scheme along the lines suggested by the Deputy.

Insofar as the Temporary Protection Directive is concerned, this Directive is applicable to what is defined as a "mass influx" into the EU of displaced persons from third countries who are unable to return to their country of origin, circumstances which do not apply at this time in this instance. Activation of the Protection Directive requires a proposal from the EU Commission and a majority decision by the Council of the EU.

In order to be helpful, I have detailed information on labour market access permission that may be useful below:

Under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), persons are eligible to apply for labour market access permission if:

• They are an international protection applicant; and
• They have waited at least 5 months from their “Application Received” date for their first instance recommendation; and
• They are cooperating with the international protection process – delays in receiving a recommendation must not be attributable to the applicant.

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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1523.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to consider a scheme that would assist Palestinians who have arrived from the West Bank and Gaza, similar to the help that was offered to the Ukrainian nationals; if she will ensure that an asylum case for a person (details supplied) is expedited, ensuring they are granted the right to work, as should all Palestinians who have arrived here from Gaza and the West Bank. [31967/24]