Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 7 September 2026
2131. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in relation to the Humanitarian Admissions Programme 2026, the decisions that have been made regarding what persons will be admitted under this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59662/26]
View answer2132. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if he will provide an exhaustive list of countries that are both eligible and ineligible for the Humanitarian Admissions Programme 2026; the basis for the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59666/26]
View answer2133. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the required biometric data for the purposes of qualifying for the Humanitarian Admissions Programme 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59668/26]
View answer2137. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the facilities that he has put in place to carry out biometric testing in third countries for the purposes of the Humanitarian Admissions Programme 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59675/26]
View answer2145. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the changes that have occurred since the implementation of the EU Migration Asylum Pact on 12 June 2026, in relation to the Humanitarian Admissions Programme 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59856/26]
View answer2146. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason each country (details supplied) is considered ineligible for the Humanitarian Admissions Programme 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59857/26]
View answer2147. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the considerations he has given regarding the eligibility of Pakistan for inclusion in the biometric testing process for the Humanitarian Admissions Programme 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59861/26]
View answer2148. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the effect of deeming certain third countries as ineligible under the Humanitarian Admissions Programme 2026; if it will mean persons in those third countries will not gain admission into the Humanitarian Admissions Programme 2026; if it also means that only people in the third countries deemed eligible (details supplied) will be admitted under this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59866/26]
View answer2149. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the updated requirements under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (details supplied); if there is any flexibility in this regard and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59898/26]
View answer2152. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if, for the purposes of the Humanitarian Admissions Programme 2026, biometric testing can be carried out in a location or by a body other than a diplomatic mission, such as a company (details supplied), who carried out this work on behalf of Ireland and other EU nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59951/26]
View answer2156. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his attention has been drawn to the application made under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the specific concerns related to the amended qualifying criteria for this programme and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59994/26]
View answer2157. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if his attention has been drawn to the application made under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the specific concerns related to the amended qualifying criteria for this programme and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60014/26]
View answer2346. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding the facilities that he has put in place to carry out biometric testing in third countries for the purposes of the Humanitarian Admissions Programme 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59708/26]
View answer2347. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration if, for the purposes of the Humanitarian Admissions Programme 2026, biometric testing can be carried out in a location or by a body other than a diplomatic mission, such as a company (details supplied), who carried out this work on behalf of Ireland and other EU nations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59950/26]
View answer2567. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the position regarding any flexibility that can be applied for the requirement to have an active third country visa under the process for Afghan citizens (details supplied) applying under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62857/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2131, 2132, 2133, 2137, 2145, 2146, 2147, 2148, 2149, 2152, 2156, 2157, 2346, 2347 and 2567 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, the 2026 Humanitarian Admissions Programme, which operates under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP) within my Department, commenced on 1 July 2026. For 2026, The Open Community has been appointed to administer the Humanitarian Admissions Programme, supporting the admission of 50 individuals through a community sponsorship (CS) framework.
The deadline for submission of expressions of interest under the 2026 Programme has now elapsed. As the process of examining the applications received under the Programme is ongoing, the Deputy will appreciate that I am not in a position to comment on individual applications or pre-empt the decision making process.
The Deputy will be aware that the EU Migration and Asylum Pact came into effect from 12 June 2026. The Pact contains a number of provisions around humanitarian admissions including a definition of ‘humanitarian admissions’, provisions around eligibility and the admissions procedure as well as requirements to be fulfilled in advance of admission under humanitarian admissions programmes. The Humanitarian Admissions Programme for 2026 was designed having regard to these requirements.
In addition, when setting out the arrangements for the 2026 Programme, my officials were informed by issues including the presence of an Irish diplomatic presence in potential countries of first asylum, discussions with colleagues in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade around visa eligibility requirements in particular countries and the feasibility of facilitating travel to Ireland. As a result of these considerations, and given the shortened time period for completion of the 2026 Programme, applications from those persons in Pakistan and Türkiye will be considered for admission under the Programme this year.
The Pact also sets out particular requirements in the area of collection of biometric data for all persons over the age of six years. These provisions will be applied to all such persons whose applications will be progressed under the 2026 Humanitarian Admissions Programme. Discussions are ongoing with relevant partners around arrangements for the collection of such data under this Programme.
