Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
426. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice whether the period of continuous residence in the State exercised by temporary protection beneficiaries would qualify as part of the duration of reckonable residence required for the purposes of eligibility to apply for long term residency in the State. [52490/23]
View answer427. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice whether the period of continuous residence in the State exercised by temporary protection beneficiaries would qualify as part of the duration of reckonable residence required for the purposes of eligibility to apply for naturalisation in the State. [52491/23]
View answer428. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice whether and which immigration permission temporary protection beneficiaries reside in the state under and how, following any cessation of the temporary protection directive, this would interact with the criteria and terms of stamp 4 permissions [52492/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 426, 427 and 428 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, the activation of the EU Temporary Protection Directive is an emergency provision designed to quickly and humanely respond to the mass displacement of Ukrainian people by Russian aggression. Ireland participates in this EU measure, which is given legal effect under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015.
Those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine and who meet the criteria set out in the Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2022/382) are eligible for this temporary protection, initially for one year and on a renewable basis, as long as the Temporary Protection Directive remains activated.
The Temporary Protection Certificate issued to all Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection is a temporary permission to remain in Ireland and is renewable on an annual basis as long as the Temporary Protection Directive remains in force. Beneficiaries of temporary protection are granted access to the labour market and to Government supports, as required under the Directive.
The Temporary Protection Directive has been extended until March 2025, in accordance with the recent Council Decision (EU 2023/2409). Ireland favours a harmonised, EU-wide approach to exiting Temporary Protection and continues to engage with the EU Commission and fellow member states to consider what provisions will be made for beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, and how this might relate to immigration arrangements and schemes generally, when the Directive is no longer active.
