Written answers
Monday, 8 September 2025
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Middle East
Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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24. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if his attention has been drawn to the request for help to facilitate the evacuation of a person (details supplied) in Gaza who was assured by the Irish Embassy in Tel Aviv that they would be evacuated; and if he will assure the person and their sponsor in Ireland that they will be evacuated [44570/25]
Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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27. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is aware of the case of a person (details supplied) who is training to be an architect and was admitted to a Masters in Architecture at UCD in February, but is currently trapped in Gaza; if his Department will facilitate their evacuation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44726/25]
Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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31. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the process of evacuation for a student from Gaza (details supplied), the possibility of evacuating university students in Gaza who have been offered places in Irish universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44810/25]
Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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47. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to consider aiding in the evacuation of a person from Gaza (details supplied) who has been accepted to a university in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45883/25]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 27, 31 and 47 together.
I was delighted to announce the arrival in Ireland of 52 Palestinians following an operation to support their departure from Gaza on 27 August. I am pleased to confirm that the individual referred to by the Deputies was among those supported to come to Ireland.
My officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including diplomats in Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Turkey, have worked closely with the relevant authorities to ensure that this group could make their journey. Such operations are extraordinarily complex and require close cooperation, and weeks and months of detailed planning across multiple organisations.
Since the beginning of the crisis in Gaza, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has supported more than 200 people to leave Gaza and travel to Ireland. As exit from Gaza is dependent on receipt of permission from the relevant local authorities, both in Israel and neighbouring jurisdictions, such assistance often rests outside the control of the Government of Ireland.
I welcome the arrival of these Palestinian young people to Ireland, and wish them every success with their studies here.
Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal East, Labour)
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25. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the role Ireland has in evacuating individuals from Gaza who are not citizens of Ireland but have family residing here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44664/25]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I remain gravely concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and ever-rising number of civilian casualties.
My Department provides consular assistance in accordance with its Consular Assistance Charter and while it is limited in the assistance it can provide to non-Irish citizens, we have worked to find practical ways to help people in Gaza.
It should be noted that in order to travel to Ireland, individuals who are not citizens of Ireland must be in possession of a valid visa. Permission to travel to Ireland for visa-required nationals is the responsibility of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
Moreover, exit from Gaza is dependent on receipt of permission from the relevant local authorities, both in Israel and in certain circumstances neighbouring jurisdictions. Such permissions are outside the control of the Government of Ireland.
Please be assured that Ireland will continue to advocate internationally for an urgent end to hostilities and for unimpeded humanitarian access.
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