Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 April 2022
614. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Justice the way that information on the different vocations of Ukrainian citizens arriving in Ireland will be collated and made available to various sectors that wish to help in fast-tracking mutual qualification recognition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18074/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can advise the Deputy that, as Minister for Justice, I do not have responsibility for the issue of mutual qualification recognition. The Deputy may wish to raise this matter directly with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Science and Innovation.
There is a coordinated whole-of-Government response to support people arriving in Ireland who have fled the violence in Ukraine. Government Departments and services are working together to implement Ireland's commitments under the EU Temporary Protection Directive (2001/55/EC), which has been activated for the first time to grant temporary protection to displaced persons from Ukraine. The Directive has legal effect under Section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015. Those eligible for Temporary Protection (granted initially for one year, but renewable) will have immediate access to the labour market, social welfare, accommodation and other State supports as necessary. A whole-of-Government response is being mobilised to implement the practical arrangements to give effect to these commitments.
My Department is primarily responsible for issuing temporary protection documents to those who are eligible. As of 4 April 2022, more than 18,600 people that have arrived in Ireland and my Department has issued more than 15,600 temporary protection permission letters.
Beneficiaries are being provided with their permission letter on arrival at Dublin Airport in the 'one-stop-shop' established by my Department for that purpose, to ensure early access to all necessary supports. Arrangements have also been put in place to provide permission letters to those who arrived at Dublin Airport prior to 9 March (when permission letters started to issue) and to those who have arrived at other ports of entry to the State.
I can assure the Deputy that my Government colleagues and I will continue to work with our EU counterparts on any further EU-wide measures that might be needed to assist those fleeing Ukraine.
