Ireland plans mechanism to encourage Ukrainian refugees to return home

Ireland’s Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has said that while a mechanism will be introduced to encourage Ukrainian refugees to return to their home country, no decision has yet been made on a potential repatriation payment scheme.

His comments follow a report in the Sunday Times suggesting that Ukrainian refugees in Ireland could receive payments from the Irish government only after returning to Ukraine.

Mr O’Callaghan said he does not yet have full government approval for any such payment plan, RTE reports.

He said he was "very conscious that, having listened to the Ukrainian government figures and the Minister for Home Affairs in Ukraine, they're very anxious for Ukrainian people to return back to Ukraine".

He added that some refugees may choose to remain in Ireland, stressing the need for flexible arrangements.

He said there are also some people who may wish to stay in Ireland and that there needs to be a "variety of mechanisms in place to ensure that we do facilitate people who want to go back home to Ukraine".

The minister declined to provide details on any proposed payments, saying it would be "disrespectful to his Government colleagues" to discuss specifics at this stage. However, he added that "certainly there will be a mechanism in place to encourage people that want to go back to Ukraine, and it may be the case that they need some assistance in going back there, and I think that would be appropriate in the circumstances".

By Sabina Mammadli