There is no designated official in the Department of Justice coordinating refugee status for Palestinians, Minister of State Colm Brophy has confirmed.
Speaking in response to a Parliamentary Question from People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett, Brophy said that current Irish law does not permit international protection claims to be made from outside the country.
“There is no provision in national law for making applications while a person is outside the State,” he said.
“A person who wishes to make a claim for international protection in Ireland must be at the frontier of the State or already be present in the State.”
Boyd Barrett had asked whether any senior figure within the Department had been appointed to manage or coordinate immigration permissions for Palestinians, “given that the Government considers conditions in Gaza to constitute a genocide.”
Responding, Brophy said that while the Government has authorised the evacuation of up to 30 sick children from Gaza following a WHO appeal, no broader or more general programme exists.
He explained that entry to the country for Palestinian nationals remains subject to standard immigration procedures.
“It is possible to apply for a visa and for permission to remain in Ireland based on a variety of different reasons, including employment, education or a family relationship,” he said.
“Officials from across a number of teams deal with these applications as appropriate…but I can assure the Deputy that my Department is very conscious of the importance of these requests.”
“These applications and their progress receive attention at a senior level on an ongoing basis,” he added.
The comments come amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with the Government having stated earlier this year that the situation in Gaza amounts to genocide.
However, Irish law still requires refugee or asylum seekers to physically enter the country before making an application.
The Government previously confirmed a humanitarian evacuation of a limited number of sick or injured children from Gaza. That programme was separate from the standard asylum process and coordinated through the World Health Organisation.
Under the International Protection Act 2015, asylum claims can only be made at the border or within the territory of the State. There is no mechanism to pre-approve refugee status from abroad.