Nick Henderson

At the very least, as we see it, there's two differing approaches in government, it seems.

One is that the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Taoiseach have said over the last two months, made reference to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the very real humanitarian challenges that Ukrainian people face, that there's been, I think, around 90 children killed in Ukraine in the last month.

At the same time, then, the Department of Justice are saying that these supports, which have been generous in part, increasingly less generous in recent years, that these supports would be wound down and don't seem to acknowledge or don't take into account whatsoever the fact that the war continues to exist.

So there's two differing approaches.

And then finally, there is, as you said, there's the European Union approach to this.

It's across all European Union member states, and they've met.

The crucial things that they've said is that states should consider

and prepare for voluntary return, but they should also consider and prepare for a transitional status for Ukrainians who are able to stay.

And as you've said, there are people living here, working here for several years, and children who've gone to school here and brought up here.

I think the minister mentioned that briefly this morning, but I haven't seen it in reports as to what that transitional status will look like.

No, the European Council framework that was agreed in September this year

member states should prepare for some sort of voluntary return support.

And I don't think in the proposals and the reports that we haven't seen any proposals yet, just in the news reports that we've read over the last 24 hours, I haven't seen any elaboration on what that will look like, whether it will be the same as that which is available for people who have been through the international protection process or whether it will be the same provision across all EU member states.

I doubt that in a way.

or whether more likely it will be something particular to Ireland.

That remains to be seen.

Just one thing that is going on in the background, and it was reported in EURACTIV, which is a European Union-focused newsletter.

They reported, I think, in March, middle of March, that there is discussions that the Temporary Protection Directive could be extended again in March 2020.

27, possibly for a shorter period of time.

And I've heard that anecdotally from colleagues in Brussels as well.