Latest news with #TemporaryProtection
Irish Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Ireland to back proposal to extend EU protection for Ukrainian refugees into 2027
Ireland will support a proposal to extend European Union protection for people fleeing the war in Ukraine for another year into 2027 when EU justice and home affairs ministers meet later this week. Ukrainians arriving in EU countries since the Russian invasion in 2022 have benefited from temporary protection. More than 112,000 people from Ukraine have arrived in Ireland over those three years, though almost a third of these are believed to have since left the State. There are almost 33,000 people from Ukraine in State-supported accommodation at 320 locations around the country. READ MORE Temporary protection for Ukrainian refugees in the EU is due to expire in March 2026. However, with no end in sight to the war, the EU's Justice and Home Affairs Council is expected to reach a political agreement on extending temporary protection for displaced persons from Ukraine until March 2027. Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan , who is due to attend the meeting in Luxembourg later this week, briefed Cabinet on how Ireland will support the proposal to extend the protection into 2027 in principle. At the beginning of February, there were 112,189 beneficiaries of temporary protection from Ukraine, an increase of 8,833 or 8.5 per cent on the same time in 2024, according to annual figures produced by the Central Statistics Office (CSO). However, the number of active PPSNs in November belonging to Ukrainian people was just 71 per cent of the total, suggesting 29 per cent have most likely left the State and are living elsewhere. [ Ukrainians in Ireland succeeding in asylum applications at twice rate of other nationalities Opens in new window ] In January last year, the Government reduced payments to new arrivals from €232 a week to €38.80. Since that move there has been no month where the number of newly arrived Ukrainian refugees has surpassed 700. As of the February statistics, women and children make up three-quarters of all Ukrainian refugees, and 23,803 were working. Counterterrorism Separately, Mr O'Callaghan received Cabinet approval to publish a law aimed at strengthening Ireland's counterterrorism laws. A Department of Justice statement said the Criminal Justice (Terrorist Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2025 will 'allow for the prosecution of a broader range of terrorist activities in light of the evolving nature of terrorism'. These include terrorist acts with a cross-Border element, and cyberattacks where the aim is to cause widespread harm. This bill – which includes three new offences: receiving training for terrorism; travelling for the purposes of terrorism; and organising or facilitating travelling for the purposes of terrorism – will bring Ireland's counterterrorism laws into line with those of other EU member states. [ Crimea was once a crossroads of civilisations, now it's stuck in a wartime cul-de-sac Opens in new window ] Mr O'Callaghan said the proposed Bill will 'strengthen Ireland's laws by broadening the scope of prosecutable offences in respect of terrorist activity and marks a significant step forward in ensuring that Ireland's counterterrorism framework is robust and fit for purpose in the face of modern terrorist threats'. Along with the new offences, Mr O'Callaghan said the Bill 'also permits courts, when sentencing a person convicted of recruiting or providing training for terrorism, to treat as an aggravating factor that the offence was committed against a child'.
Reuters
04-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
EU Commission proposes extending temporary protection for Ukrainians to March 2027
June 3 (Reuters) - The European Commission proposed on Wednesday extending temporary protection for Ukrainians who have sought refuge in the European Union until March 2027, underlining the need for flexibility as Russia's war in Ukraine drags on. The Commission, the EU's executive body, also proposed steps to help displaced Ukrainians return home when the war eventually ends. EU figures show more than 4.25 million people who have fled Ukraine benefit from the bloc's Temporary Protection Directive, a measure to help cope with mass arrivals of displaced persons that was activated after Russia's 2022 invasion. The directive, which was due to expire in March 2026 and has already been extended three times, provides protection and benefits lasting for one to three years across the EU, including a residence permit, access to employment and social welfare. "The situation in Ukraine is, of course, still volatile, so we need to be flexible," EU internal affairs and migration commissioner Magnus Brunner told a press conference in Brussels alongside Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov. "This provides legal certainty for the EU member states, Brunner said, adding that it avoided overburdening national asylum systems. The directive, whose extension requires the approval of EU member states, was initially passed in 2001 after the Balkan wars of the 1990s but had not been used until 2022. The Commission recommended measures to ensure Ukrainians can return home smoothly when the fighting ends that included organising voluntary return programmes and providing beneficiaries with information and support. It also recommended member states start transitioning beneficiaries who want to stay in the EU to other legal statuses, for instance offering work permits and student visas. Many of the displaced Ukrainians are in Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic, according the EU statistics office. Chernyshev said it was clear that some Ukrainians would hope to stay in the EU when the war ends but added: "I would like to state that we desperately need Ukrainians back home once the war is over."
Irish Independent
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Historic Mayo mansion will no longer accommodate Ukrainian refugees
Ballinafad House, which accommodated over 30 beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (at one point, will revert to alternative use next month. The 110-room property, owned by Australian Bede Tannock, has accommodated Ukrainian refugees since 2022. The historic property had been providing accommodation and operated as a venue for weddings, civil ceremonies and public gatherings. The Department of Justice has confirmed that the property, and Hotel Newport Holiday Apartments, while revert to original or alternative use. Eight people are affected by the discontinuation of the use of Ballinafad House while eleven were living in the Hotel Newport Holiday Apartments. Approximately 2,400 Ukrainian refugees across the country are to be affected by the change of purpose of 30 properties. The Department of Justice said the contracts with private accommodation providers were not being renewed partly due to a 'reduced need' for such facilities to accommodate BOTPs. 'Many people are choosing to move on from State-supported accommodation or are leaving Ireland,' the department stated. 'State accommodation contracts may also be ending where compliance issues arise, or where the owner chooses to end their contract.' Those residing in Ballinafad House must relocate by June 6 while those in the Hotel Newport Holiday Apartments must relocate by July 4. It is understood that many of those who had been living in Ballinafad House have now left the property. Built near the village of Belcarra in 1827, Ballinafad House had fallen into disrepair when restoration works began there in March 2014. ADVERTISEMENT The 70,000 square foot property featured on RTE'S 'Great House Revival' and boasts 40 bedrooms, its own chapel and handball court. The five-bay two-storey-over-raised-basement mansion was built by Maurice Blake, a former High Sheriff of County Mayo, who hailed from a well-known Catholic family who pioneered Gaelic games in the locality. In 1908, Maurice and Anne Blake's son, Lieutenant Colonel Count Llewellyn Joseph, donated the building to the Society of African Missions (SMA). The SMA used the building as a secondary school and minor seminary, known as The Sacred Heart College, to prepare students for missionary priesthood as more ancillary buildings were built onto the house. Over 500 priests were ordained there before the seminary closed in 1957. The property was later purchased by Balla Mart, who used it used as an agricultural college. It closed due to a lack of funding in the mid-1970s after five years in operation. This forced 80 boarders and 120 day students to continue their education elsewhere. Plans for a 'detention centre' and a 'multi-million-euro sports complex' at Ballinafad had been reported in The Mayo News years before Mr Tannock acquired the property for €80,000 in 2014. In 2019, Ballinafad House was placed on the market for €2 million.
RTÉ News
23-05-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Directors of IPAS centre management firm shared €4.68m last year
Two directors at one of the biggest operators in the International Protection (IP) applicant accommodation sector last year shared a €4.68m jackpot in pay and pension contributions. In the second half alone of last year, Igo Cafe Ltd trading as IGO Emergency Management Services received €29.9m (incl VAT) in State payments for accommodating IP applicants. The Dún Laoghaire-based company is co-owned by directors Ann Murphy and Cristina Andries on a 50/50 basis and in 2024, the two shared €4.68m in remuneration and pension contributions. The Government spent €1bn on accommodating IP applicants last year. The new accounts for Igo Cafe Ltd show that the two directors shared €3.779m in pay and an additional €910,000 in pension contributions. If evenly split, the €3.779m works at €1.889m each for 2024 which equates to average pay of €36,346 per week for each. The €3.77m in pay is almost three times the €1.3m the pair shared in pay in 2023. The accounts show that the company recorded post tax profits of €1.3m last year which was a 48.5% increase on the post tax profits of €882,126 in 2023. Numbers employed increased from 31 to 77 last year while accumulated profits at the end of December stood at €2.28m as cash funds totalled €1.24m. The cash funds of €1.24m compared to only €1,158 in cash in the company at the end of 2019. A spokeswoman for the Dept of Justice said today that IGO Emergency Management Services "are a facilities management provider at four International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) accommodation centres". She said: "The Department does not routinely provide details of IPAS Accommodation Centre locations or occupancy levels. "While detailed contractual arrangements for IPAS centres are confidential and commercially sensitive, the Department publishes quarterly reports on all payments to service providers over €20,000, which include IPAS accommodation contracts for this and other providers." She said that these reports are publicly available online. She said: "IGO Emergency Management Services are not a facilities management provider for Ukraine Temporary Protection scheme." Meanwhile, the Government spend on accommodating IP applicants came to €1bn last year, after €280m was spent in the final quarter. The €1bn spend was a 54% increase on the €651.75m paid out in 2023. Last year, the Government spent a total of €1.84bn on accommodation for IP applicants and Ukrainians. The outlay equates to a daily average spend of €5m across 2024.
Irish Daily Mirror
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
International Protection applicants given €60m in daily allowances
Some €60.2 million was spent providing 'daily allowances' to 20,749 people in International Protection Accommodation Services in 2024. This was up from €34.4m given to 19,612 people the previous year, despite the introduction of means testing in June, 2024. The figures were released to Fine Gael TD Barry Ward following a parliamentary question to Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary. International Protection Applicants can get a weekly allowance of €38.80 for adults and €29.80 per child. If the Government is unable to provide international protection applicants with accommodation, this increases to €113.80 per week. Since June 2024, the Department of Social Protection has means-tested the allowance for those over 18 and 'getting an income for 12 weeks or more'. Those earning more than €125 a week do not receive the payment, while those earning between €61 and €124 receive a reduced rate. Mr Calleary explained: 'Since June 2024, an income assessment is in effect for Daily Expenses Allowance recipients over 18, where the recipient has income for a total of 12 weeks or more. 'For couples or families, the Daily Expenses Allowance payment for the person who has income may be reduced or withdrawn. 'This will not affect any payments other family members are getting, including children.' In response to Deputy Ward, Minister Calleary confirmed that provisional figures show that €60.2m was paid to 20,749 in receipt of the allowance in 2024. Mr Calleary said at the end of last year, 12,900 received the payment, 14,200 adults and 6,600 kids. Despite the introduction of means testing, the average allowance was €2,901, up from €1,754. Mr Calleary said: 'It should be noted that 2024 expenditure includes the higher rate of payment to support applicants who were unaccommodated and on a waiting list for International Protection Accommodation Services, which was introduced in December 2023. The 2024 figure also includes expenditure of Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection [Ukrainian Refugees] residing in State accommodation, €9.8m.'
