I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 55, 56 and 71 together.
Last month I announced, together with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and the Minister of State for Law Reform, Youth Justice and Immigration, that places would be allocated to Afghan nationals under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme. The programme was created in 2015 as part of Ireland’s response to the migration crisis in central and southern Europe. It allows a predetermined number of vulnerable people in need of international protection to be granted refugee status in Ireland.
Places on the programme have been allocated to approximately 370 Afghan nationals, some 150 of whom have travelled to Ireland. Priority was given to those working on human rights issues, including the rights of women and girls, and minorities, as well as those working with NGOs and European and international organisations. The operation of this programme is managed by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The Department of Foreign Affairs is, through our diplomatic network, including in Abu Dhabi and Ankara, liaising with relevant authorities in the region and countries in Europe in relation to transit routes. The Department of Justice is providing practical support by way of issuing visas, or visa waivers, to facilitate travel to Ireland. That Department is also focused on processing applications for Afghan family members of Irish citizens and Afghan nationals living in Ireland.
The Department of Justice is currently reviewing all international protection applications on hand from Afghan nationals with a view to expediting their progress, in line with updated advice provided by UNHCR in recent weeks. These applications are already prioritised, as agreed with UNHCR. The processing of these applications takes full account of whether a person will be in danger if not provided with a permission to remain here.
It is a matter for the Department of Justice to determine which documents must be submitted in support of visa applications or visa waivers and the extent, if any, to which these may be relaxed.
The Government at its meeting earlier this week, approved the introduction of a new Afghanistan Admission Programme whereby current or former Afghan nationals resident in Ireland can apply for close family members in Afghanistan or who have recently fled Afghanistan to certain countries to be granted temporary residence in Ireland. I very much welcome this new proposal from my colleague, the Minister for Justice, which will create a tailored reunification programme and enable Ireland to better respond to the situation in Afghanistan.