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LAST UPDATE | 3 Mar 2022
THE EUROPEAN UNION has decided to grant temporary protection to refugees from Ukraine that will enable them to live, work and study in EU countries.
The decision will allow people fleeing the war in Ukraine to obtain a residence permit in the EU, which will also give them access to education and the labour market.
The temporary protection directive uses a mechanism that was drawn up in the early 2000s in response to wars in former Yugoslavia, but which has not been implemented before.
It is understood that the measure will officially come into effect from tomorrow and that it will be available for anyone in Ireland that has already arrived under the visa waiver scheme, which waived visa requirements for Ukrainian people who travel to Ireland.
450 people have come to Ireland from Ukraine so far since Russia’s invasion began last week.
There were was no decision made today in terms of the number of people individual EU countries may be asked to take in.
European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, who attended the meeting where the decision to implement the directive was made, called it a “historic decision”.
“The EU will give temporary protection to those fleeing the war in Ukraine. The EU stands united to save lives!” she tweeted.
Under a text submitted by the European Commission, refugees from Ukraine and their family members would receive a residence permit and the right to access work and education for an initial year.
That would be renewable every six months for a total of two years.
Speaking to The Journal, Rachael Bermingham, an Advice and Legal Information Officer at Doras, said that the directive “will allow Ukrainian nationals and those who were resident in Ukraine, including asylum seekers, residency in EU member states”.
“This will allow access to the labour market, social welfare systems, as well as medical care,” Bermingham said.
“In Ireland this is set out in law under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015. We are awaiting updates from the government with more details of how this will work and how individuals may access the permission.”
In a meeting this afternoon, Taoiseach Micheál Martin told ministers that Ireland will continue to work with the EU and United Nations to put pressure on Russian and support Ukraine.
Ministers agreed that relevant departments and agencies will prepare for potentially significant numbers of people being offered protection in Ireland and explore options for assisting humanitarian efforts in other EU countries.
The Taoiseach said earlier this week that Ireland may take up to “20,000 people to start with”.
Secretaries general of departments will meet weekly to monitor developments, coordinate actions, and report back to Government.
One million people have fled Ukraine in the seven days since the invasion started, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
In a statement earlier today, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said that Europe “stands by those in need of protection”.
“All those fleeing Putin’s bombs are welcome in Europe,” von der Leyen said.
“We will provide protection to those seeking shelter and we will help those looking for a safe way home.”
Earlier this week, Ukraine formally entered an application to join the EU.
Presidents of eight eastern European countries signed a letter to the EU calling for Ukraine to be granted candidate status, saying that it “deserves the perspective of EU accession”.
The Taoiseach said that he agreed with the idea of an accelerated process for Ukraine to join the bloc but that he did not know if it would be possible for them to join immediately.
“I don’t know whether it can be done immediately. But I certainly would be a proponent and supporter of accelerating it and making it very clear that they can become members of the European Union,” Martin said.
“I’ve always favoured the acceleration of the European perspective for countries in our neighbourhood.”
Additional reporting by Christina Finn and AFP
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Great news especially with Brexit on the horizon. The US beef market is absolutely huge, and we produce a far superior product to their domestic offering.
Big kudos to Board Bia for sorting this out for Irish beef farmers.
@James Keane: Slightly of subject. Somebody should show this to all the people in the UK who voted for Brexit. Like we now are with the U.S. in respect of our beef. Outside the EU the UK will be subject to laws and regulations from within the EU if they want to export to the EU. So now the UK will be subject to the EU laws but without any say in making them or they just stop exporting to the EU. Clever people!
@Mary Murphy: You should get a job in the Department for the Bleedin Obvious. The people in the UK knew the consequences of brexit.
@Ian Walsh: Exactly, they knew they would get control of their borders, to stop them bloody immigrants (they won’t), they’d get back 350mill per week for the NHS (they won’t) and they get to stunt opportunities for future generations (actually, this one they will)
@James Keane: Especially in conjunction with Amazons take over of Whole Foods. I can see them trying to gain a larger market share for their high quality grocery store. Not to mention Amazon Prime grocery deliveries.
Grass feed beef is much healthier than grain fed beef for human consumption.
Grain fed beef contributes significantly to arterial and cardio vascular disease.
@Tony Daly: That’s because grass fed is high in omega 3, an anti inflammatory, also found in fish oils. Grain fed have a higher omega 6 which in excess is pro inflammatory.
Grain feeding is also inhumane as it damages the digestive tract of the animal that has not evolved to eat it. Even humans used to soak grains in an acid medium before grinding for flour as grains are seeds and have protective toxins in their raw form.
You can’t beat a lovely juicy medium to rare Irish steak cooked and prepared by a well trained chef.
Makes you wonder what’s in all those foreign cattle?!
@Mary McDonagh Faherty: Beef and Milk?
@Stephen Devlin: and angel dust
This shows how vital it is that we in ROI patrol the border with NI after Brexit. It’s in our interest to ensure our products are not contaminated with British products.
@Fred Jensen: Oh yeah? Remind us all how airtight the NI border was the last time there were border controls.
@Fred Jensen:
Build a wall!!! The DUP will pay for it.
And can we also have a choice?
And be able to sample a piece of American beef
Or is it one way traffic for the 90 % of Irish exported beef
@Thaddus T Sawballs: im sure Mr Trump would agree with you there.
@Thaddus T Sawballs: ifa seem scared shitless of South or North American Beef but are all aboard the gravy train to sell their own.
@Thaddus T Sawballs: go to McDonald’s they still have The Great Taste Of America burgers lol
@Thaddus T Sawballs: go to McDonald’s they still have The Great Taste Of America burgers lol
@Shawn O’Ceallaghan: it’s the me fein attitude
You have no choice but Irish beef
They feed you this bullscutter about Angus beef being the best beef?
Like you don’t have a say ,it’s the best because we say so now eat it and shut your mouth
They want to export to every country in the world
But under no circumstances let any foreign beef in here, all angel dust and hormones bullshit they trot out
@Thaddus T Sawballs. Why should EU farmers be forced to jump through all the hoops to produce traceable beef, when South American farmers can sell in the same market place while not coming close to the standards of EU beef farms? Double standards.
@Do the Bort man: if I could only get a bit of EU beef,
Where did you see any Spanish French of German beef in any shops here
@Thaddus T Sawballs: Thats like asking why can’t you get any German, Spanish or French snow in Greenland. We have more than enough here to meet our demand, imported beef from other EU countries would be more expensive for the consumer in Ireland, so they are at a disadvantage straight away.
Giving good quality beef to Americans is just a waste of good meat…everyone knows they would eat any old $hit.
Fantastic news for Irish farmers and only right because they put every effort into giving us healthy meat. Unlike the U.S. they wont find any steroids and crap that they love to feed animals over there to bulk them up.
Good news, however only very select farms will actually benefit from this. I’m not complaining though!
i wonder how much could the beef market be worth to ireland??
Pity the animal has to have a violent death. Must be very frightening for the animals.
@Niallers: its not a violent death.
@Do the Bort man: I don’t think they wait for them to die in their sleep.
@Niallers: it’s possible to die violently in your sleep.
@Do the Bort man: halal deaths can be quite violent for the animal when pre-stunning technique is not followed.
@Sean: correct halal can be barbaric, but it’s hardly ever used in Ireland.
feckless Eejit
have your say