The Minister for Foreign Affairs has said Ukrainians coming to Ireland will get special refugee status and will be entitled to work and live here effectively as EU citizens.
Speaking after the Cabinet discussed the Russian invasion, Simon Coveney said the numbers may be so large that accommodation would be needed beyond what the State could provide.
Minister Simon Coveney says 20,000 Ukrainians could seek refuge in Ireland and people may need to “open up their homes’ to help accommodate them. | Read more: https://t.co/DP6l88Hr7l pic.twitter.com/uBuI50Hr9A
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 1, 2022
He said the effort could involve Irish families opening up their homes for a temporary period.
Mr Coveney said the EU believes there could be one million refugees and Ireland could end up taking 2%, which would amount to 20,000 people.
However, he cautioned that it was too early to put definitive numbers on it.
Minister Coveney said the European Union is looking at measures to help ease the financial burden on EU citizens, caused by the sanctions on Russia.
'We are likely to see a lot of Ukrainians looking to travel to every European country over the months ahead,' Minister Simon Coveney has said.
The minister added that Ireland has waived visa requirements for those leaving Ukraine | Follow live updates: https://t.co/qafFJN2BNw pic.twitter.com/qNU3nbIP1g
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) March 1, 2022
He said sanctions could have an impact on inflation and member states might be given flexibility to take actions that they would not ordinarily be able to take.
The Cabinet also discussed the presence of Russian diplomatic staff in Ireland, however no decisions have yet been made.
Mr Coveney said he was awaiting the outcome of an EU meeting on the issue, which is under way today.
He also said Ireland is “not neutral” regarding the conflict.
Ireland has committed €10 million to a €500m European package to support Ukraine’s military to help with helmets, protection vests and military fuel, he said.
Mr Coveney said 74 Irish citizens are still in Ukraine and Irish diplomats are said to be in close contact with them to give “accurate and up to date advice in terms of what they should do.”
He said there is increasing evidence to show that Russian forces are targetting civilians in Ukraine.
Source: RTE News
