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Humanitarian Access

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2021

Thursday, 7 October 2021

Questions (358, 359)

Holly Cairns

Question:

358. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice if she will bring forward the commencement date of the humanitarian admissions programme for Afghan nationals to October 2021, reflecting the urgency of the situation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49061/21]

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Holly Cairns

Question:

359. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice if she will remove the limit of four family members per sponsor from the humanitarian admissions programme for Afghan nationals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49062/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 358 and 359 together.

I am very conscious of the plight faced by the Afghan people following the collapse of the former Afghan government and the takeover by the Taliban, that has further fuelled the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.

Ireland's national response to the current crisis includes opening the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) under Minister O'Gorman's remit to Afghan persons in need of protection and working to ensure that applications received by Afghan nationals under the various State schemes for immigration residence and international protection can be prioritised for speedier processing where possible. These schemes provide avenues for Afghan nationals to seek protection and for eligible family members living in Ireland to seek to have their close family members granted permission to reside in Ireland, where the relevant criteria are met. More than 670 Afghan nationals have already been granted permissions to reside in the State so far this year.

Last week, the Government approved an additional initiative; the special Afghan Admission Programme. The Programme will allow places for up to 500 Afghan family members and each applicant will have an opportunity to nominate up to four family members who are currently residing in Afghanistan or who have fled to neighbouring territories and whom they consider would be especially at risk in terms of their freedom and safety.

The Programme is guided by the previous Syrian Humanitarian Assistance Programme (SHAP) which also provided for the nomination of a limited number of close family members and by the IRPP Humanitarian Assistance Programme (IHAP), which included Afghan nationals.

The Programme, including the detailed eligibility criteria and the application process, will be developed over the coming months, with a view to issuing a call for applications in December. The timescale provided is to ensure that the options considered are as inclusive as possible and that the programme is available to those that most require our help. The intervening time is required to develop the details of the programme, including a guidance document for applicants, application form, decision making criteria and the appeals process. The clearer the application process is made at the outset, the quicker we will be able to process applications in the interests of those concerned.

Question No. 359 answered with Question No. 358.
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