A total of 23 Irish citizens have crossed into Egypt from Gaza via the Rafah crossing, according to Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin.
He said there were some families with children, but he could not give more personal information.
The Tánaiste told reporters in Cairo that an Irish diplomatic team was at the Rafah crossing and they would bring the group to the Egyptian capital, where medical and other assistance is available.
Asked about their health, Mr Martin said: "Our initial response is that they are in good form."
While he described the release of 23 citizens as "very welcome news", the Tánaiste added work would be redoubled to ensure those remaining can get into Egypt as well.
Mr Martin said he would be discussing the issue with Israeli authorities tomorrow following "fruitful discussions" with Egyptian officials today.
He said that there is a "sense" that things were moving towards a "more sustainable opening of Rafah now.".
Speaking to RTÉ's Drivetime, Mr Martin said there will be another group of around 40 people, both citizens and dependents, due to pass through the crossing.
He said it was difficult to get exact numbers and added that some people on the current list could not make it to the border due to family issues, but may be able to cross at some point in the future.
He said: "Well, it is a fluid situation in terms of citizens and dependents, but there will be another group to come out certainly somewhere in or around over 40, so we are continuing to work on that with the Israeli authorities in terms of finalizing lists and so forth.
"Our diplomatic network here - our ambassadors in Cairo and Tel Aviv and Ramallah have all been working together with essentially the Israeli authorities and the Egyptian authorities.
"We had concerns that they had not come out earlier if I am honest. I am more relieved today now than I have been for a while because, of course, the situation in Gaza is very serious, very dangerous."
He added that he had spoken to the Qataris about Irish-Israeli girl Emily Hand. The eight-year-old is believed to have been abducted by Hamas and is likely being held in Gaza.
Mr Martin said he has received good responses from the Egyptian Foreign Minister regarding getting her out, and similarly, the Qatari foreign Minister gave a positive response.
He had no updates on the Qatari mediators and their hope to strike an agreement with Hamas to release some hostages in exchange for a brief ceasefire.
But he hoped if a deal were arranged, Emily would be let go.
Speaking from Egypt earlier, Mr Martin said: "We expect additional Irish citizens and dependants in Gaza to be on the list in the coming days. We are going to continue to work tirelessly to ensure that all Irish citizens who wish to leave will be able to exit as soon as possible.
"It is a significant number [of Irish citizens leaving Gaza today]" but added that there will be "more" who are not in this group that the State needed to assist.
He said the citizens would be taken to Cairo and have "their wellbeing checked and observed".
"The situation in Gaza is extremely grave with the humanitarian crisis worsening by the day. We urgently need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, and we are working to ensure that aid is able to reach those who need it most."
This morning, he had cautioned that it is "still a very fluid situation" but added that "we're very hopeful that a number of Irish citizens can make it through."
Read More: 'Like being chosen by God to survive' - Irish-Palestinian family on list to leave Gaza
He said intensive diplomatic work would continue to get the rest of the Irish citizens in Gaza into Egypt.
It is believed that as many as 40 Irish citizens are currently in Gaza.
When asked if he could say precisely how many people would cross today, Mr Martin said: "I can't give precise numbers, but it is good news that quite a number of Irish citizens are on that list."
He described aid and medical workers as "true heroes" who "were putting their lives on the line every day".
"We need a humanitarian ceasefire to help them in the very basic necessities of life. To get support and aid to them and medical supplies to the doctors so they can treat the ill, the sick and the injured."
Mr Martin thanked Egypt's foreign affairs minister Hassan Shoukry for his "proactive engagement on this issue".
Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry pays tribute to medical staff in Gaza - many of whom have lost their lives in Israeli airstrikes, while trying to afford care to the injured in dire circumstances. He was speaking after meeting Tanaiste @MichealMartinTD @rtenews pic.twitter.com/2vLr148G0d
— Paul Cunningham (@RTENewsPaulC) November 15, 2023
Mr Martin is on a whistle stop tour of the Middle East which begins today in Egypt and the moves onto Israel and the Occupied Territories tomorrow.
The Tánaiste said he would be pressing for "the need for the violence to stop [in Gaza] and for a ceasefire."
He added there would have to be "a diplomatic process to create a sustainable pathway to peace so that people can live in harmony in the region."
When speaking about Emily Hand, the Tánaiste said all hostages must be released, but children should be prioritised, and the Government is focused on the case of Emily.
"One can only imagine the enormous trauma that that young child is going through."
