Pa Daly
Ceist:169. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice if she will report on her meeting with European Union counterparts in relation to the Ukrainian refugee crisis. [13297/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 9 March 2022
Ceisteanna (169)
Freagraí scríofa
The Deputy will be aware that I attended an extraordinary meeting of Interior/Home Affairs Ministers on 27 February 2022, which was called to discuss the escalating situation in Ukraine.
The main focus of that meeting was on the activation of Council Directive 2001/55/EC (Temporary Protection Directive) to grant temporary protection to the mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine. It was agreed that a proposal for a Council Decision to activate the measure would be added to the agenda of the Justice and Home Affairs Council scheduled to take place on 3 and 4 March 2022.
At the JHA Council, Home Affairs Ministers unanimously approved the decision to activate the Temporary Protection Directive with the measure subsequently being adopted by the Foreign Affairs Council on 4 March, and coming into force on that date. As part of the wider discussions, Ministers communicated via videoconference with the Minister of Interior of Ukraine and the Vice Minister.
Ireland participates in this EU measure, which has been given legal effect under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015.
Those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine will be eligible for this temporary protection, initially for one year and on a renewable basis. It will provide beneficiaries with immediate access to the labour market, along with access to social welfare, accommodation and other State supports.
A whole-of-Government response is being mobilised to implement the practical arrangements to give effect to these commitments.
Beneficiaries will be provided with their permission letter on arrival in the State to ensure early access to all necessary supports. My Department is working urgently to put a system in place to issue them for people arriving into Dublin Airport, and arrangements will be put in place as soon as possible to provide letters to those who arrived in recent days.
Arrangements for the registration of the permission and the collection of the information necessary for same will follow. As this is a crisis situation, the normal registration procedures for long term residents in Ireland will not apply. All necessary steps will be taken to ensure that the process is as simple and stress-free as possible.