Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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2126. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to outline in detail what analysis was carried out in terms of the potential impact on the State, both financial and otherwise, in advance of taking the decision to support the extension of TPD to March 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44103/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland opted into the Temporary Protection Directive on 11 April 2003. Under Article 4 of the Temporary Protection Directive, where the reasons for temporary protection persist, the Council may decide by a qualified majority, on a proposal from the Commission to extend temporary protection for a further year. Similarly, the Council may at any time decide by a qualified majority to end temporary protection on a proposal from the Commission where the situation in the country of origin is such as to permit the safe and durable return of those granted temporary protection.

On 15 July 2025, the Justice and Home Affairs Council unanimously agreed to extend Temporary Protection by a year until March 2027. This extension is due to the ongoing uncertainty and volatility of the situation in Ukraine, and the related need for ongoing protection in the EU.

One of the key aims of the Temporary Protection Directive is to minimise the impact on national international protection systems, ensuring that those fleeing the war can receive the protection they need quickly while minimising the associated administrative burden on member states.

Together with all other Member States, Ireland supported the extension of the Temporary Protection Directive until March 2027 in light of the ongoing situation in Ukraine. Furthermore, extending temporary protection avoids the significant additional costs which would arise for the State if people fleeing war in Ukraine had no option but to apply for international protection.

Meanwhile, Ireland has continued to advocate strongly for an agreed common EU strategy for exiting temporary protection. The recent extension allows time for sufficient planning to support such a coordinated and harmonised approach to exiting temporary protection across the EU. This is being progressed at an EU level via the ongoing negotiation of a Council Recommendation on a coordinated approach to the transition out of temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine.