Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
111. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will use his best efforts to evacuate persons from Gaza (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55432/23]
View answerClearance to exit from Gaza is decided by the relevant local authorities. These authorities have made clear to all countries with citizens in Gaza that the focus for facilitated departures from Gaza is for foreign and dual nationals, and immediate dependents accompanying them.
In line with the Department’s Consular Assistance Charter, the remit of my Department is to provide consular assistance to Irish citizens abroad. This has been our focus over the last seven weeks.
The population of Gaza is 2.3 million people. The humanitarian situation is dire and many of those living in Gaza are seeking to leave. Over the last number of weeks, my Department has received many enquiries regarding the situation of individuals, including people with ties to Ireland or already holding a visa for Ireland. This includes the persons whose situation your have raised. Any decision on clearance for these individuals to leave Gaza will be made by the relevant local authorities. For Irish visa holders who do receive clearance to exit Gaza from the local authorities, they may make arrangements to travel to Ireland.
Since the start of the current crisis in Gaza my Department has worked with the relevant authorities to facilitate the exit from Gaza of those Irish citizens, and accompanying dependents, who have expressed a wish to leave. To date, 56 Irish citizens and their dependents have been assisted to leave Gaza.
A small number of Irish citizens remain in Gaza. We will continue to work consistently with the relevant authorities on additional cases of Irish citizens where these arise and to assist in instances where other Irish citizens and accompanying dependants wish to exit Gaza.
